Olopade Dismisses Rumoured Leadership Tussle in Nigeria Sports Commission

By Ikemefuna Asika

The Director General of National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade has stated that there is no leadership rift between him and the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Diko.

Olopade stated this while fielding questions from Sports writers covering the 9th National Youth Games at the media Centre of Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

He described the purpoted rift as baseless.

“It is not only ludicrous, it is shameful for such a journalist to write something so stupid and narrow-minded.

“I have officially reported to the President of SWAN, but I believe it is important I clear the air here.

“There are no issues,” he clarified.

He said, ” Shehu Dikko and I have our eyes on the ball. We are concentrating on innovating.

“We are working hard to bring a system that is production-oriented and not consumption-oriented.”

He added, “Again, a story that we will never forget, It was stupidly written.

“There are no issues between Gusau, Sanusi, Shehu Dikko and I. We are a family. We are all focus-driven.

“We are a team alongside the NIS director, which is also under the sports commission we are a family any attempt to try to divide us will be met by prayers from God to go after those people so I want us to put a stop.

“We are also in good terms with all other presidents at the federations. We will work very hard to have a seamless federation elections. We just appointed today an electoral body led by an astute personality, who we believe will run an amazing election for the country to be proud of.

“We have done two elections so far that were ranked highly. This is time for us to celebrate peace in sports, this is not the time for us to issue bad blood, lies discretion unnecessarily insults from outside to you or from you to us.

“This is the time for us to work as a family, God bless SWAN, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he prayed

He disclosed that Nigeria has officially indicated interest and sent in bid for hosting of the 2031 Commonwealth Games and maintained that
“right now, we are focused on how we win the next two matches of the World Cup qualifiers,” he stressed.