By Amaechi Agbo

The Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has fired back to the ministry of youth and sports development, claiming that the ministry does not have the powers to appoint, dismiss or fire an appointee of the federation.

The AFN stated this Tuesday following the ministry’s press release announcing the nullification of the appointment of Mr Siminialayi Young Pepple as the Director-General of the federation.

In the release signed by the Director of Press, Lere-Adams, the ministry noted that the AFN lacks the power to make such appointment and consequently cancelled, a move the AFN countered.

The release personally signed by the AFN President, Hon. Ibrahim Gusau asked the ministry to stop causing confusion and arrogating a power not giving to him constitutionally to himself. “The confusion in the FMYSD has been displayed once again in its Statement of today wherein it purportedly nullified the appointment of Mr S. Y. Pepple, who it earlier labelled an impersonator, impostor and persona non grata. 

“The Minister should do well to keep within the powers of his office and not arrogate to himself powers that the Constitution has not given to him.”

Below os the details of the release”

Our attention has been drawn to a Release signed by one LERE-ADAMS, A. B, as Director Press of the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development (FMYSD), purportedly nullifying the appointment of the Director General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), under my presidency.

Although silence is known to be golden, when misinformation is allowed to thrive, it assumes the position of truth.  We in the AFN believe in the laws of our country, Nigeria and have demonstrated this whenever there is need for judicial interpretation on any matter. 

It is common knowledge that the High Court and Court of Appeal have delivered judgement in the matter of the Presidency of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) wherein the Court held that the supervisory powers of the FMYSD does not extend to the interference with the management of AFN, hence the FMYSD does not have the powers to appoint, dismiss or fire any management member of Federation.

Nigeria is a country governed by laws and the current administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has continued to enjoin its appointees to obey court orders. The FMYSD claims to be acting upon the recommendations of a Ministerial Panel of Inquiry on AFN which AFN is not aware of.  As the President of AFN, I was not notified of the Panel nor was AFN under my watch invited to the said panel before the so-called recommendations were purportedly reached. The entire process as well as the recommendation and the purported removal of Mr. Pepple by FMYSD is at most the wishful thinking of the FMYSD and is bereft of any legitimacy under our law.  

For the records, Mr Siminialayi Young Pepple was appointed Director General in accordance with the provisions of the AFN Constitution 2019 (as amended).  His appointment was ratified by an AFN Congress.

In July, 2020 shortly after the High Court judgement, one Gabriel Aduda, in the name of Permanent Secretary, FMYSD labelled Mr S. Y. Pepple an impersonator, impostor and persona non grata. 

The confusion in the FMYSD has been displayed once again in its Statement of today wherein it purportedly nullified the appointment of Mr S. Y. Pepple, who it earlier labelled an impersonator, impostor and persona non grata. 

The Minister should do well to keep within the powers of his office and not arrogate to himself powers that the Constitution has not given to him.   We have never doubted the powers of the FMYSD to develop and supervise sports in the country.  Its role as a supervisor has never been contested.  The Ministry should keep within its role and allow sports to grow.  It has administered sports and we are witnesses to the state of our sports today.  They cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results.  FMYSD should allow sports to grow and concentrate on developing grassroots sports.

It is worthy of note that all our actions have been in the best interest of the sport, the athletes and in conformity with best international sports standards as enunciated in the statutes of the CAA and the WA. 

I call on all stakeholders, well-meaning and sports loving Nigerians to prevail on the Minister of Youth & Sports Development, to stop embarrassing Nigeria in the eyes of the world.

It is on record that the Hon. Minister had written to World Athletics on this matter.  One would have expected him to take the advice of the World body.  Nigeria is bigger than any individual or organisation/establishment.  The FMYSD should ensure the growth of sports in Nigeria. The Ministry should work towards leaving a positive legacy; not one that will be remembered for avoidable controversies, confrontations and unnecessary show of force, which it does not have in the first place.