By Jacob Ajom
Sports minister and chairman of the national sports commission, Ibrahim Isa Bio has called on those saddled with the responsibility of running sports in the country to set good examples for the larger society to emulate.

BioDeclaring the Nigeria Olympic Committee Annual General Meeting open in Lagos, Thursday, the minister enjoined sports administrators to eschew bitterness and work as a team in order to achieve set goals.

He said because Nigeria was too important in the eyes of other nations, whatever any person in the seat of authority does had a lot of implications.

“Nigeria is a major leader in Africa, not only in sports but in all spheres. We have to protect our leadership position in whatever we do. The entire world is watching us,” Bio said.

The minister wondered why sports in Nigeria was saddled with so many problems. “Crisis in NOC, in the NFF and so forth. We have a God-given responsibility and the manner we go about it matters. We have to set the example in sports so that the larger society can emulate us in the 2011 general elections.”

Soon after declaring the AGM open, former president of the NOC, Habu Gumel announced his withdrawal from contesting for the post of the president of the body. His announcement was greeted with a wild applause by delegates who said he had taken the most honourable step.

Former PRO, Tony Nezianya also withdrew, so did chief Udeze and Uche Nebedum withdraw from contesting for the second vice president and deputy secretary-general of the NOC.

Meanwhile, erstwhile scribe of the NOC, Banji Oladapo contested and lost 10-21 votes to Tunde Popoola while Lanre Glover also lost by the same margin to Jonathan Nnaji for the post of first vice president.

New NOC president, Sani Ndanusa said he saw his election as a big challenge and would need the cooperation of all stake-holders in the task of building a better future for the Olympic movement in Nigeria.

“My regime will be all-embracing. What has happened today shows that there were no winners and no losers. The winner was Nigerian sports,”Ndanusa remarked.