EDO 2020: Presidency Intervenes, Saves NSF from Cancellation

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

After the furore generated by the Edo State Government’s threat to shut down the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City if the counterpart funding expected from the Federal Government was not released by noon yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari is believed to have intervened in the matter.

On Wednesday night, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the festival headed by Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, issued a statement that it could no longer go ahead with picking all the bills in connection with the hosting and that if by Thursday afternoon the state government did not receive the promised funds from Abuja, it was going to end the festival abruptly.

That threat was restated yesterday with an additional 24 hours extension to Friday afternoon before calling off the hosting.

The Deputy Governor addressed a press conference where he insisted that all the state was hearing from the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, were promises. He revealed threats by its vendors who are yet to get paid for their services to shut down the festival.

He stressed further: “It took the grace of God for the traders not to shut down. Other vendors are threatening to shut down and hence the LOC will have no choice but to shut down the 20th National Sports Festival if we don’t get full commitment from the federal government by noon tomorrow.”

“ We keep hearing that there is approval from Abuja but we don’t know how much is the money and when it will be released so that we can approach a bank to get a facility to complete the festival,” Rt. Hon. Shaibu informed reporters at the press briefing.

Edo carried out the threat first by shutting down all activities at the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and placed the secretariat under lockdown.

However, with most of the athletes gripped with fears of going back to their respective states without competing in their events, the Presidency in Abuja was reported to have given a commitment of N500million to Edo State to cushion the effects of the hosting jacked up by the many postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Project Manager, Media and Communications of Edo 2020, Musa Ebomhiana later yesterday issued a statement to reassure all participants that the Presidency had intervened with a commitment without giving the figure.

THISDAY however learnt that the promised counterpart funding was to the tune of N500million.

“The Local Organising Committee, LOC, Edo2020 has just risen from another emergency meeting to review the Presidential intervention over financial crisis threatening the National Sports Festival.

“At the end of the meeting presided over by the Chairman/Deputy Governor, Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, the LOC decided that the games have to continue.

“The LOC agreed that the Presidential intervention is a very strong and direct commitment which we must all respect, honour and take seriously.

“We strongly believe and respect commitments from the Presidency. We take them by their words. It’s a strong message to us that they are strongly committed to redeeming their pledge to support us for the loses suffered arising from the three postponements of the games.

“The LOC appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari and indeed the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for his high level of commitment to work with the Federal Government for the success of the Festival, Edo2020

“Wishing the athletes and officials from across the 35 States and the FCT a memorable stay in Edo as the games last,” concludes the statement from the LOC last night.