By Ben Efe

African double sprint champion, Blessing Okagbare is still holding a smoking gun as words continue to trail Nigeria’s acrimonious campaign at the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas. Okagbare stated yesterday that she never asked Athletics Federation of Nigeria president Solomon Ogba for money.

Chief Ogba was quoted in a report as saying that Okagbare demanded for money and it was not given hence her protestations.

“I did not ask them for money. I am only asking the AFN to do the right thing.

“If they have to tell lies to cover up their deeds, too bad. They shouldn’t find a way to paint me red because they want others to feel good about them,”Okagbare reeled out.

She wondered why the AFN boss would compare her with her Ivorian rival Muriel Ahoure, adding that, it was an “absurdity”.

“He is comparing me with the Ivory Coast athlete? What that country has done and still doing for that girl, have they done it for me?

“You can call my coach in Sapele and confirm. He and my husband on several occasions have  distributed clothing and shoes to athletes and even soccer players. My coach will testify how I have shaped some of the athletes and soccer players lives,”Okagbare added.

She called on Nigerian athletes to stand up for their rights. “We Nigerian athletes must not sit down and fold our arms. We must insist that the right things must be done, that it the only way we can make progress in our sport.”

Okagbare and the Nigerian 4x200m quartet won a relay gold at the Bahamas meet.