By Paul BASSEY

Today, ( July 19 2013 ) one of Nigeria’s greatest sports administrators Chief John Ojidoh will be 87. Will he roll out the drums? The answer was very quick. “Paul there is nothing to celebrate. One of the reasons why we worked so hard was to be able to enjoy in our later years. Here I am on my wheel chair unable to move, yet this is the time I should be enjoying good tidings and developments in the sports sector, but the opposite is the case” he lamented.

I had just received a text from him, lamenting the scandalous score line that has brought the nation’s sports into disrepute.

Without mincing words, he says all the players and officials and referees should be banned for life. That all the club officials should be handed over to the State Security Service and the Police and those in the Police team should be court Martialled and dismissed from the force if they are serving officers.

As far as Chief Ojidoh is concerned, THIS IS A TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE IMAGE OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL “

A strict adherer to rules, regulations and statutes, Chief Ojidoh has also descended on those seeking to fix minimum pay for footballers. He says it is not right. The right of association should berespected.

“What about those who cannot meet the minimum wage? They should fold up? No. I insist that clubs should pay what they can afford. Players should then decide to either accept such wages or aspire to greener pastures”

Is it all negative? Pa Ojidoh wrote. “ There is hope. I thank those who have strived to use their material, moral and other resources to make my life bearable by committing to the growth of sports.

“Physically challenged and weak, God has graciously kept me spiritually, mentally and psychologically stable and functional to attain my 87th birthday.”

At 87, put a call through to him and all you get is a weak response of a man who believes he is doing “ overtime” but the moment you switch the topic to sports, he comes alive. His voice resonates and assumes an uncanny vibrancy as he reels out names, dates and figures with ease to buttress his faultless arguments.

“ Ah in my days, I dare not lose a match. The Mid West House of Assembly will summon me to appear immediately, but see what is happening now, even governments are conniving to perpetrate atrocities in sports……..” he lamented.

A tested and established Football administrator, one who lived his life for sports, especially football. Those who can tell the story of Chief Ojidoh go back to that top referee and gamesmaster who created waves with unknown Abudu Rovers and went on to become Chairman of the then Midwest football association piloting it in the golden era of Bendel Insurance and New Nigeria Bank.

Also, the then Nigeria Football Association had to fall back on the expertise of Chief Ojidoh as chairman of the NFA Constitution and act review panel. His honesty and integrity informed his appointment as pioneer chairman of the Pepsi Football Awards.

“ Old Bobo” to his friends and colleagues, Chief Jonathan Ogufere, President of Association of Sports Veterans, Nigeria (ASVN) has added his voice to the life of a man he considers as “ a thorough bred, knowledgeable and disciplined sports administrator. Pity, his likes are no more there”. Chief Ogufere used the opportunity to lament the “disappearance of veterans from the scene without commensurate recognition and replacement. This is a living legend. We should rise and applaud him, honour him” he said.