Ondo Sports Unions Protest Appointment of Acting Sports Council GM

By Kanu Samuel 

Tension flared on Tuesday at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, as sports unions, coaches and athletes protested the appointment of Mrs Evelyn Lebi as Acting General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council.

The protesters said the appointment raised concerns about the future of sports administration in the state and urged the government to reconsider its decision.

Speaking to journalists, Coach Fisayo Bello, Coordinating Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), said the sector required strong and visionary leadership to address its current challenges.

According to Bello, sports in Ondo State needed “a competent technocrat with passion and vision” to restore its past glory.

“We need someone who can take us back to our glorious days, not backwards. She contested for this position four years ago; we said no then and we are saying no now. We want a better person, a technocrat who can move sports forward,” he said.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of AUPCTRE in the state and a boxing coach, Osifo Moses, said the Sports Council deserved a reputable and committed administrator who would prioritise athletes’ welfare and development.

Chairman of the Ondo State Professional Coaches Association, Comrade Joshua Ogunbiyi, said the protest was not targeted at Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, whom he described as supportive of sports, but at the appointment itself.

Ogunbiyi said stakeholders had previously expressed reservations about Lebi’s suitability, stressing the need for fresh energy and effective leadership in the sector.

“At this stage, sports is not moving forward. We want a vibrant and competent general manager who can revive sports development.

Mrs Lebi has contested for this position several times, and we have made government understand our position.

We believe she is not the right choice,” he said.

Similarly, the General Captain of Ondo State Athletes, Mr Idowu Afun, appealed to the state government to appoint a leader who would inspire confidence among athletes and stakeholders.

Reacting, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Henry Omoyofunmi, dismissed the protest as unnecessary.

Omoyofunmi said Lebi was a qualified professional with over 15 years’ experience at the Sports Council and currently served as Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

He explained that her appointment followed due process after the expiration of the former general manager’s tenure, adding that the Head of Service posted her to the council in line with civil service procedures.

The commissioner expressed confidence that the appointment would strengthen sports development in the state.