By Eddie Akalonu

Former Edo State Director of Sports Brown Ebewele is unhappy at the domineering influence by Civil Servants on sports in the country, saying their presence in the National Sports Commission and Sports Ministry has stagnated the growth of sports in the country.

Speaking in Lagos, he said, “Sports is in bondage as long as Civil Servants continue to exert undue influence at the top echelon of administration. They are the problem of sports in Nigeria and as long as they remain in charge, we are not going to progress,” he said, adding that “no matter what is put in place to revamp or reposition sports can always be undermined by this same people.”

Continuing, the former Edo State Sports Commissioner  said,”I would like our President- Elect, who is an epitome of ‘change’ to note that Sports is the first sector that his administration should look into. It needs total overhaul and reorganization because Civil Servants have dragged the sector into ruins. As long as they remain in-charge progress cannot be made.”Explaining the need for change, Ebewele threw some posers “Civil Servants have made sure that the core of Nigeria’s elite athletes who were sent out for training are jobless years after. There is no reason whatsoever that Innocent Egbunike, Yusuf Ali, Henry Amike, Falilat Ogunkoya and others have no jobs in sports when the same country sent them out to be trained after their competitive years. Civil Servants have ensured they are not employed for selfish reasons,” he said.  “But the issue is one that can be sorted out fast if we truly want progress

“This is the only country in the world with almost it’s Olympians without jobs in sports or elsewhere. We have mortgaged sports to Civil Servants and they have sealed all avenues preventing our Olympians from making contributions. we need to change this seriously,” he added.