How I fell for Sports Minister Solomon Dalong News

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How I fell for Sports Minister Solomon Dalong

By Daily Sports on February 1, 2016

Honestly, last week was golden as it gave me some relief from the sadness of the shocking death of my good friend, Austin “Suzzy” Akosa. Our fast-growing baby, Daily Sports, got recognition from far way Enugu State where one of our own ace columnist, Amobi Ezeaku, Esq., was appointed Team Manager of the very famous football club, Rangers International of Enugu by the Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Barrister Ezeaku’s appointment did not come to me as surprise; rather it confirmed my earlier discussion with a very mutual friend who is an ardent reader of this soar away online portal. Though a Lawyer, Ezeaku discusses the game and its rules with all ease in his weekly column, SPORTS LAW. He is a perfect addition to the Flying Antelopes team as the forthcoming Nigeria Professional Football League season beckons. Congratulations once again, my man!

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Yes, my loyal readers, thanks for being there. You will bear me out as one Reporter that is never blindfolded with all that glitters because they are not gold. Let me be honest with you nevertheless, that after much close watch and study of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalong, the elders gave their nod to unveil him in this strictly reserved section of our factual newspaper this week.

Since his appointment as the man in charge of Sports, I have met him only once and it was when he came on a tour of facilities in Lagos. I was there at his media interactive session. In short, I was seated next to the President of AIPS Africa, Mitchell Obi. Trust, the vibrant Lagos-Ibadan sporting media was at its best firing probing questions to the Minister, who at some point I pitied being on the hot seat. His name does not ring a bell. So who is he? Where is he coming from? What magic does he have to survive and succeed in the very challenging Sports sector? Will he survive or be drowned? Many questions than answers! But Dalong is proving wrong today many doubting Thomases who never gave him any chance. He is diligently steering this ship despite the tumultuous waters with charging waves and storms, too.

I digress. I never knew I was kidding when the man from the Plateau calmly soaked off the very hot arrows with intellectual finesse. Instantly, I fell for him. He displayed the posture of a sure-footed personality. He further showed he is not a newcomer to the terrain as he handled even some controversial questions that would easily spark off anger from often badly trained Nigerian Ministers with candour. He has natural intelligence which he combines wisely with his good grasp of Western education. Just be privileged to listen to him, you will freely be won over.

Before we continue, let me say that after the interactive session, despite his high rating by the critical Lagos Sporting Press, I never cared a hoot to go and have a handshake with him. I am not one for frivolities because I like calling a spade by its name. Not a hired bigot. Never!! Being myself and critical has brought me at daggers-dawn with Nigerian sports administrators past and present who do not like my kind of courage. Though the Bible tells us not to judge so that we will not be judged, excuse me this, I differ a bit on that. I tell you to your face where you got it wrong and it is left for you to judge yourself if you have conscience. For me to stick out my neck and write on a personality means that he or she has done exceptionally well in the service of the fatherland. This space is not for the highest bidder. It is known for its critical X-ray of events, sports-friendly corporate citizens and personalities in sports. I don’t write to impress anybody or group.

Dalong, 51, was born September 26, 1964 in Sabo Gida, Plateau State. He did not have any experience in sports or sports management prior to this appointment. Until 2003, he was the Personal Assistant to the very reverend late Chief Solomon Lar, who was then the Adviser Emeritus to then President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2004, he became a lecturer at the Faculty of Law in the University of Jos. On a lighter mood, in Langtang South, Dalong is referred to as “the man who brought colour roofing sheets.” After graduating from the Government College, Keffi, currently in Nassarawa State, where he had his secondary education, he joined the Nigerian Prisons Service. In 2007, Dalong was appointed the Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area. He returned to the University of Jos in 2008 at the expiration of his tenure.

Dalong was a Prison Assistant and rose to the rank of Assistant Inspector of Prisons. He was moved to the Legal Department of the prisons, where he served as Legal Officer II in the prisons headquarters before his retirement. From the above, it is clear that Dalong is not a Mr. Nobody. He tasted administration from the grassroots, which I am sure has been aiding him efficiently. He was called to the bar in 2001. He is a lawyer by training.

Truly, Dalong won me as his new apostle. It never got into my head; even he doesn’t know about it. He is suave and his simplicity is charming. He doesn’t talk to impress anybody, or talk at the drop of a hat. He hits the nail on the head. Let me confess here that he is not like a typical and crafty Nigerian politician. His likes are few on the scene. Straight to a fault and as plain as one’s palms. His actions and inactions so far have clearly shown that he is independent-minded.

Dalong is disarmingly unassuming, his relationship with people excellence. It is instructive to also note that he means well for sports. His body language tells the story. He has gone the extra mile to carry everybody along. He seems to have played blind, deaf and dumb to the powerful and deadly gang in the Sports arena and has gone ahead well. He has tried to carry everybody along and the only way to pay him back is to allow a peaceful atmosphere take hold in all the sports federations, especially NFF and Taekwondo. There are so many hawks there.

The Minister began on a sound footing listening to everyone. The now popular saying of President Muhammdu Buhari of belonging to everybody and belonging to nobody seems to be where he has tilted towards. It has given him a clear-cut vision of the direction to follow in a bid to do his job without any let or hindrance. Nobody dictates to him on what and where to start from or will accuse him of being biased or favouring this or that camp. It is the best step he has taken so far for the love of sports which its bedrock centres on fair play. He is an epitome of that traditional tenet. He has shown his thick skin as the long distance runner. At the end of the Nigerian sports would be the better for it. All he is asking for is co-operation from all. And one prays that he won’t cave in to pressure when the chips are down.

For some Nigerians who are sports fanatics, there has been a collective holding of breath, and I will say without any prejudice that Solomon Dalong as the man in charge has followed the most honourable way to tackle the multi-faceted problems of our sports thus far. His agenda-setting policy has endeared him even into the hearts of those godfathers that held sports hostage for decades. Solomon Dalong, SPORTS PULSE salutes your courage and your identity. Viva, Hon. Solomon, the wise consellor!!

•Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 1, 2016