Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
ABEOKUTA - Barring any last minute u-turn, Ogun State government may be fined N10million as penalty if the state fails to participate in this year's National Sports Festival billed to hold in Edo State from April 2 - April 16, 2021.
The state athletes numbering about 50 stormed the Ogun state governor's office at Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta to protest non-payment of camp allowance and other outstanding allowances.
THE ENCOUNTER NEWS reports that, athletes are not yet in camp barely one day to the commencement of the festival.
Further investigation revealed that, the lack of preparation was due to paucity of funds from the state government.
The Athletes, on Wednesday as early as 9am besieged the governor's office to press home their grievances and protest inability of the state government to pay their camp allowance and other outstanding allowances.
Some of the athletes who spoke with our reporter said they were yet to be paid their winning bonuses of 2018 festival held in Abuja.
Speaking with our reporter, a Tokyo Olympics bound Para-tennis player, Ishau Ogunkunle, explained that majority of the athletes are on contract since 2009 representing the state and have won major laurels in different games.
READ ALSO: Edo 2021: Team Ogun May Boycotts National Festival, As Athletes Protest Non-Payment Of Allowances
Ishau maintained that, they have been training since last year individually despite series of postponement, stressing that they are ready anytime the state government approve fund for the team.
According to Bola Sogbamu, a female boxer, added that they were at the governor's office to confirm if the state will be competing at this year's festival.
Sogbamu insisted that, they would not leave the governor's office until the Governor meet their requirements.
A top member of the LOC of Edo National Sports Festival who preferred anonymity disclosed that, any state that failed to participate at the festival risk penalty fee of N10-N15million naira in line with rules of engagement of the festival.
The source further disclosed that, a two festivals ban also await such state who boycott from the festival.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, officials from the State Ministry of Youths and Sports including the Permanent Secretary and Director of Sports were seen at the governor's office apparently to get the governor's approval for their budget.
As at 9pm on Wednesday, the angry protesters were seen at the governor's office while security was beef up around the Governor's office gate ostensibly to scare away the protesters.
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