By Augustine Kalu on October 30, 2016

Dr. Jude Amadi, the Cross River State Director of Sports, has identified lack of synergy among the three bodies that are responsible for the hosting of the National Sports Festival as responsible for the inability of the biennial national mini Olympics to hold four years after the last festival was hosted by Lagos State in 2012.

He explained that as far as he was concerned, Cross River State still has the hosting right as no official statement to the contrary has been made by the owners of the sports festival (Ministry of Youth and Sports Development) and National Council on Sports.

Dr. Amadi made the remarks in a telephone interview with Daily Sports on Thursday. He explained that it was wrong for people to think that the problem is solely that of the host state even as he agreed that the host state may have its own problems but that the entire problems should not be put at the doorstep of the host state.

“Well, as far as I am concerned, Cross River State still have the hosting right of the National Sports Festival as there is no official statement that has taken the right away from us. So, based on that I can tell you that Cross River still reserve the hosting right for the National Sports Festival,” Dr. Amadi declared.

“I want to state that one mistake that people make is to think that National Sports Festival is the property of the host state while it is not. It is true that in terms of the provision of facilities for the national sports fiesta, it is the host that provides the facilities. But in terms of organisation and logistics, it was the National Sports Commission (NSC) but now Ministry of Sports and Youth Development responsibility that has that.

“The hosting of the National Sports Festival is a tripartite responsibility. The three groups that are responsible for the hosting of the National Sports Festival are the National Council on Sports, the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and the host state.

“In my view, I think that what is lacking here is synergy. There is no synergy among these three groups. There is need for the three organs or bodies to work together or cooperate to ensure that there is synergy in order for the festival to come to fruition.”

Speaking further the experienced sports administrator explained that he believes that if the three bodies should have a synergy the fate of the sports festival will be determined for the good of the all stakeholders.

“There is no doubt that the host state has its own fault while the festival has not taken place but it is not entirely the fault of Cross River State. Like I said there are three bodies or groups in the business of the NSF programme and if the three should synergise, there may be solution to the protracted inability of the host state to play its role effectively,” Dr Amadi explained.   

“I am hopeful that solution would soon be found because there is going to be a meeting of the National Council on Sports in no distant time and I believe that after that meeting a decision would be reached on the festival,” Dr Amadi enthused.

When reminded that four years have almost gone since Lagos State played host to last edition in 2012, Dr. Amadi said it was true but was quick to recalled that there was a time Benue State was to play host to the festival but couldn’t due to one reason or the other, but had to host the festival in later date precisely in 2006.

He explained that everyone one is aware of financial situation in the country which has made it impossible for some state to even pay salaries of workers and pensioners. He said that the government in Cross River is doing its best under the circumstance it found itself.

•Photo shows Cross River State Director of Sports, Dr. Jude Amadi.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 30, 2016

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