Nigeria: Jonathan Poised to Make Country Global Power in Sports

29 March 2011

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas, over the weekend revealed the plan of the President to revolutionise sports in Nigeria if elected next month. Speaking during an interactive session with reporters, Oronto agreed that there is need for a huge investment in sports because of the strength of the nation’s youth.

Oronto posited that of all the leading presidential aspirants, Jonathan posses the best credential

“If you look at his track records as deputy governor, governor and vice-president, it has been a track record of support for the sporting industry. In Bayelsa, remember that we had two teams in the premier league, Ocean Boys and Bayelsa United; they are still in the top division of the game in the country. But this did not just happen. It was a deliberate policy pursued by the government when the president was there at the helm of policy making.

“To have a small state like Bayelsa having two teams in the Premiership is no mean feat. Also, it is on record that any Bayelsan that is interested in sports was always supported during his term in the state, whether it is Daniel Igali or Samson Siasia, his government supported. I can go on and on to give you a catalogue of things that he achieved for the sport of Bayelsa when he was governor of the state.”

Oronto then revealed how, even then, Jonathan had seen sports from the national point of view.

“When Siasia had no resources to carry Flying Eagles abroad, Jonathan and Bayelsa came to the rescue of the Nigeria Football Federation. It was on national assignment and he saw it no other way. When the glory came, it didn’t come to Bayelsa or Jonathan Goodluck. It was for the country.”

Oronto also recalled the support the President gave the wrestling team that excelled at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“At Delhi, wrestling won more medals than any other sport the country took to India. But many people do not know how that came about, who funded the preparation, who supported the preparation from beginning to the end?”

Oronto agreed the industry needs support. “If you have to look at the track records of these presidential candidates, what would you see that they have done? President Jonathan has shown from the beginning that he’s for sports. A blueprint for sports development is being prepared as we speak. With a mandate for him in 2011, Nigerian sports will not be the same again. We need to take control of Africa at the apex; we need to rule the world in sports at various levels.”

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