Sports: Ogun Paralympians Tackle Gov. Abiodun Over Unpaid Reward, Threaten To Switch Allegiance To Other States

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
ABEOKUTA – Ogun State Paralympics stars who represented Nigeria at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Lateefat Tijani and Isau Ogunkunle have berated Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, over “lack of due recognition” after the tournament.

Tijani, a powerlift athlete and Ogunkunle, a table tennis player, are indigenes of Ogun, who won medals in various competitions.

At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Tijani won Nigeria’s first gold medal in the women’s -45kg para-powerlifting, while Ogunkunle lost at the quarter finals in the para-table tennis.

However, seven months after the competition, the duo claimed they have not been given any recognition by the state government.

They expressed concern that their fellow athletes from other states have been “handsomely rewarded” but the state government had kept quiet since their return to state last year.

According to them, if Governor Abiodun could reward Olamilekan ‘Laycon’ Agbeleshe, winner of the 2020 edition of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), with a three-bedroom apartment and sum of N5 million, they deserve a better treatment.

“If the governor could reward Laycon, an able-bodied person, what about us, the disabled?,” Ogunkunle said.

Tijani, in an emotion-laden voice, added that “It’s evident that Laycon went to (BBN House) to enjoy himself. When he returned he got a reward of N5million and a three-bedroom apartment. But we represented Nigeria and Ogun State, made them proud, we have nothing to show for it. There is no encouragement.”

Speaking further, Ogunkunle threatened to dump Ogun for another state where his skills and sacrifices would be rewarded.

He said “Personally, I called the commissioner myself, he only promised that the Governor will do something.

“Now, we are on our way to qualify for the Commonwealth Games now. We have many tournaments to go to, but no support from the government or sponsorship from anybody.

“As I am talking to you now, many states are talking to me to come and represent them if my state is not ready to give me any support. So, if the situation continues like this, this is my career and as a physically challenged, I don’t have any other means. If I see a better offer from other states, possibly, I will leave the state to another state where I would be valued and appreciated.”

The duo told our correspondent they had to let out their frustration despite their coaches’ insistence not to make it a media issue.

“Our coaches are not happy that the government has not done anything for us, at the same time, they didn’t want us to speak out. I have now decided to speak out on my own whether they like it or not.

“I’m an adult. I know what’s good for me,” Ogunkunle added.

The gold medalist said, “It is not easy to win a gold medal at the Paralympics after many years of rigorous training and sacrifice. We return home and there is nothing to show for it.

“We are using this medium to appeal to the governor to give us due recognition and rewards as this would inspire us and other sportsmen and women to always give their best to the state and the country at large.”

The Special Adviser to the governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hassan, blamed the delay on the bureaucracy of the government and assured them of adequate compensation by the state government.

“You know bureaucracy has its own bottleneck. It’s not that the request will get to the table of the Secretary to the State Government today and tomorrow he would issue a cheque. No, it is not done like that. He has to interface with the governor and there are a thousand and one matters. That will just be one of them.

“And as days go by, priorities have to be reordered. I am not saying that is not a priority, but since it is on that table, it will be done,” Hazzan said.