From Sani Sule, Jalingo
As the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival tagged “Abuja 2018” come and gone, reactions continue to trail, especially by some arthletes in Taraba state.
The event which took place at Abuja National Stadium, opens on the 6th December 2018 and ended on the 16th last week with fifteen states in attendance and Taraba state in absential.
The long awaiting fevestival was held six years back in Lagos State tagged “Eko 2012” was an opportunity for young Arthletes including those of FC Taraba as well as Queens Taraba to showcase their talents for the country and the world over, but none of them from the state was able to participate in the event.
In their separates reactions, some prayers of both Male and Female Football Clubs of Taraba state, Onoja Godwi, Blessing Jebun as well the Captain of FC Taraba, Kamil Saleh described their absent at the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival as a great set back to the state.
“Lack of our participation in the just concluded Abuja 2018 NSF was worrisome because we have done all the trainings hoping that we will represent Taraba and by his grace to make the state proud, but to our shocked, to heard that the state government did not approved the proposed memo meant for the event, this is very shameful and discouraging”. They said.
According to them, apart from politics, sports is next world over which is the only tool to be used in uniting people, but it seems Governor Darius Ishaku does not love sports, therefore, they applead to him to pay more attention on the sports sector for the economic development of the state.
“Lack of sporting activities could lead to the engagement of the youth into various sort of crime acts in the society, as sports is a strong unifying sector, and any government that abandoned the sector is as good as abandoning half if the youths in the state”.
“We wish Governor Ishaku will hear this our cry, this is the first time Taraba did not participate in the NSF, and if the youth representatives are not telling him our problems, he should look for youth leaders like Me “Kamil” Captain of FC Taraba and have an interface with us to work towards his success.
“Because we believe if the Governor does not love sports, he will not appointed a Commissioner in that ministry as well as Adviser, so we hope he will do the needful to boost the activities of sports in the state”. They emphasized”.
The Players however, stressed the need for Governor Ishaku to take the youth in the state serious and drow them close to him, especially now that he is seeking for a second term.
While urging the Taraba state government to settle their outstanding allowances for about twenty four months, the footballer described the nonchalant attitude of the government towards their plight as inhuman.
“As you might be aware after several protests at the state Assembly and government house here, since when we were paid two months nothing has been done again, so we used the opportunity of today that the Governor is presenting staff of office to some Traditional Chiefs, that is why we carried plag-cards showing our solidarity to the Governor and our Royal fathers as well, with the hope that he will remember us”.
“Life has not been easy as many of us are other states and nobody is feeding us among our needs”. They added.
When contacted, Taraba state Commissioner of youth and sports, Mr. Gambo Ndafo declined comment, promising that as soon as he met with the state Deputy Governor Engr. Haruna Manu who is the Chairman of a committee that were set up by the Governor to find a lasting solution to the matter.
