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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung has warned those pestering him for his endorsement that though he will only play by the rule, adding that he won’t directly work for the removal of any sports federation president.
Speaking in Abuja recently, he warned that he will not allow any federation that suspiciously suspend any board member prior to the election to conduct any election, just as he warned that nobody should constitute an electoral college comprising his family members.
His words: “As for the federation election, we are going to provide a level playing ground to enable everybody to demonstrate the support he has to lead the federation. If the people reject those that have stayed there for ages, I will easily administer oath to the one elected without minding the years such person has stayed there.
“I am not going to be part of the removal, but I must ensure that people remove you. One thing I will not accept is to allow for nobody to constitute an electoral college of family members. The guideline is very clear and I will not allow anybody to manipulate it.
“Those who want to vote must ensure that they do justice. Even if I don’t do anything in sports, I will make sure that we organise a credible election. Posterity will remember me as somebody who refused doing it the other way.
“When we elect people credibly and democratically, we will see the changes that will take place in the federation. If you appoint a man, his loyalty will be on the man who appoints him. But if he is elected by the congress, he must always carry the congress along or he would risk impeachment through vote of no confidence.
“Those coming to beg me should go and start campaigning to the electorates. I will not endorse anybody but if people endorse you, I will stand by you even if it will cost me my job.
“Let me also remind the federations that I will not allow any federation that suspended any member to conduct election. We should not be like politicians, who suspend people before election instead of after election. Any suspension before election should be viewed as plan to stop the person from contesting the election. The days for such impunity are gone,” he said.
