Dr Rafiu Ladipo has reacted to the revival of the National Sports Commission by the Federal Government, which would take over the functions of the now scrapped Ministry of Sports Development.
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President-General, Nigerian Football Supporters Club described the move by the Federal Government as a welcome development that will aid the faster development of sports in Nigeria provided the right structure is in place.
” It is a well-done development, a development that will return sports to where it belongs and a development that will make our sports perform optimally.” he told Sports247 in an exclusive chat.
Dr Rafiu Ladipo hinged the summation on the basis of the fact the commission should be run and handled by sports professionals whose passion for game and patriotism for the nations succeed any other motives which the political arrangements of appointing the Sports Minister cannot be guaranteed over the years.
” Sports must be seen as Sports and Sports is not politics. We must face it because these are people who are professionals in their own right whether as an Athletes , Journalist supporters, there is only one thing that joins us together is the passion and patriotism, these factors are far above other considerations for the development of sports, ” said Ladipo.
He then spoke on the provision of the enabling structure which will guarantee the needed positive results.
” We have been clamouring for the return of the National Sports Commission, but if you have taken that step to replace the Ministry of Sports Development and you don’t change the structures allowing the same people to run the Ministry of Sports Development to continue to run the Sports Commission, we are not going anywhere” Rafiu Ladipo concluded.
