By Amaechi Agbo

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has denied any connection with or foreknowledge of campaign posters in Ibadan, Oyo State and environs purportedly announcing his intention to run for governorship position in the state in 2023.

Sunday Dare is from Oyo state.

Bestchoicesports.com.ng broke the news of the minister’s Oyo governorship campaign posters flooding the state and social media on February 5, 2021.

You can also read: 2023 Elections: Sunday Dare’s Governorship Posters Flood Oyo State, Social Media
https://bestchoicesports.com.ng/2023-elections-sunday-dares-governorship-posters-flood-oyo-state-social-media/

The posters with the inscriptions “People Choice 2023. Vote Sunday Dare for Governor Oyo State” was said to have been sponsored by “Dads Foundation”

But the minister has come out to repudiate the posters and described those behind the campaign as “mischief makers”

A statement Tuesday from the ministry and signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to Mr Dare, John Joshua Akanji, said the the campaign is not only mischievous and dubious, but also an orchestrated effort to distract the minister from concentrating on performing his assignment as minister of youth and sports development.

“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has been drawn to campaign posters flooding Ibadan and other towns in Oyo State announcing the candidacy of the minister to run for the governorship position of Oyo State in 2023.

“The intention of the printers of these posters is not only mischievous and dubious, but also an orchestrated effort to distract the minister from concentrating on performing his assignment as minister of youth and sports development,” he said.

Dare consequently condemned the action of those he termed mischief makers.

“The minister hereby totally disassociate himself from these posters and condemns the action of these mischief makers who are bent on creating confusion and distraction for the minister in the task put before him by Mr President,” he added.

The minister reiterated his focus and determination to continue to carry out his responsibilities as a minister and not interested in a position that would not be vacant in two to three years time.

“Neither the minister, his political associates or friends have any links whatsoever to these campaign posters,” he added.

Dare urged members of the public to disregard anyone or group purporting to be leading his campaign for the Oyo state governorship election in 2023.

Mr Dare who assumed duty as the minister overseeing the ministry of youth and sports development on August 2, 2019 has been under immense pressure since Sunday following the postponment of the 2020 National Sports Festival from February to April.