By Amos Mathew Kaduna
While assuring that all is set for the authentic Athletics Federation of NIgeria (AFN) election in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has described what is planned for Abuja on Monday as nothing but a Trade Fair, where the highest bidder will be crowned.
Dalung stated this, while fielding questions from newsmen as he arrived Birnin Kebbi ahead of the AFN Elections.
“I don’t know there will be any election in Abuja. I believe there will be a trade Fair in Abuja tomorrow, where there will be buying and selling.
“Calling for elective Congress can only be done by the president. Tomorrow, there will be buying and selling in Abuja, which is unfortunate.
“The painful aspect is that it will be taking place at a venue named after MKO Abiola, dancing on his grave and mocking democracy,” he said.
Speaking further, Dalung said that whether those buying positions there will be able to assume position, is something he is yet to understand.
“The chairman of their AFN caretaker committee has already described the Abuja jamboree, as a charade. So I don’t know what they will be doing there,” he said.
The former minister said that, “Tomorrow marks end of first cycle of democracy of federations. For election of new board after democratization in 2017.
“I expect we will have a new board elected by the real AFN delegates. The democratization policy provides for autonomy on management of the federation.
“Under constitution of AFN, no body has powers to call for Congress unless its President which I inaugurated in 2017.
“My expectation is a brand new board, elected by the delegates here in Birnin Kebbi,” he added.
Dalung lamented that Nigeria’s participation is still unclear, weeks away from the global event.
“We have Olympics coming up in couple of weeks. I am not too sure if Nigeria has qualified for Olympics. When there were supposed to be in Poland, they were already camping in USA,” he said.
Also speaking, President of AFN, Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Gusau assured that the elective Congress would be successful.
“We are looking forward to a successful election because delegates have arrived Birnin Kebbi from all over the country, as well as observers from several African countries,” he said.
