In continuation with politics of bitterness movement and unethical approach. The state government has instructed the Director of Sports to close and shut down. The Caanan Table Tennis Complex. This is not unconnected with the refusal of Rt. Hon. Chief Orok Otu Duke to move to APC.
The complex in the Memo of article and Memorandum of Association (MEMART) shows that the state government has an equity share holding of 40 percent while individuals has 60 percent.
The state Table tennis club has made the state proud in recent time. The cadet team came third in the just concluded National sport festival. Idongesit Udoka has won a gold medal in recent meet but was rather appreciated by the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello. The club through individual sponsors have been able to produce the likes of Aruna Kadiri, an olympic semi finalist and African champion, Funke Oshonaike, Offiong Edem, all African Games Champions and olympians. They have brought glory to the state at different point in time. Their sponsorship is largely from individuals as the state government had hitherto stopped the subvention to the Table tennis Club.
The players were sited stranded at the stadium as they had no place to train for a competition in Turkey next week and the Olympic games in Tokyo. Rt. Hon Orok Duke, the Chairman of South South table tennis, and also a founding member of PDP(1998) is not considering leaving PDP at this time, at all.
He is presently making arrangements for alternative arrangements to enable the players to continue training, so as not to get rusty. The players too were confused as Hon. Orok has assured them that the state Governor, HE Ben Ayade, has promised to intervene.
Cecilia Otu is in Italy. Janet Friday is in Portugal, all through Hon Duke’s efforts and mentoring. Why pit spanner in the works, because of Politics?
We are watching and waiting… More interesting developments in these interesting times, said he is taking the event with philosophical calmness as he is yet to see an official memo to that effect.
He however made a commitment of looking for alternative training ground if all else fails as no amount of politics will truncate the vigour in the boys and girls.
Francis Etang
