Following attempt to withdraw the Nigerian Boxing Federation, (NBF) from the International Boxing Association, (IBA), by the former president, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah (rtd.), the Interim President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation, Azania Omo-Agege has stated that retired General owes the Federal Government, and the good people of Nigeria an explanation for his action.
Omo-Agege who stepped in as the interim Boxing Federation President after the suspension of Minimah by IBA, and also following the expiration of his tenure as the NBF president expressed disgust at the unilateral power exhibited by the former president in taking such action.
He stressed that the planned attempt to withdraw Nigeria did not reflect the general will of the NBF board and it’s congress.
“It is totally absurd that an individual could attempt to withdraw a nation from a body that they have belonged to the past forty years, and on his own affiliate the Federation to a new Boxing body without the approval of the board and the congress. Such hefty decision can only be taking after it has gone through all the processes, and finally ratified by the Ministry of Sports, the parent body of sports in Nigeria.
“I would appreciate if he will be bold enough to explain to Nigerians if indeed he followed due processes before embarking on the journey to withdraw Nigeria from IBA and affiliate the Federation with a supposedly new Boxing body.
“Does it make any sense that you withdraw Nigeria from an international boxing body that has more than 200 boxing Federations to a relatively new body that has only about 22 boxing Federations. More so, all our referees and coaches are all IBA members. IBA is in charge of the All Africa Games, and the other international boxing championship.
“You may want to recall that before our election the then Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare explicitly stated that the six (6) National Sports Federations that have their Constitutions ratified by their International sports bodies and the Nigeria Olympic Committee should conduct their elections based on their respective Constitutions.
“So, since our election was conducted with an IBA approved constitution, I can only advise Lt General Minimah retired, and his supporters to go set up their own boxing Federation affiliated to the new international boxing Federation. As for me as the interim president, and the other patriots in the Federation, NBF is fully affiliated to IBA,” he stated.
Omo-Agege who also doubles as the interim president of the Africa Boxing Confederation, (AFBC) maintained that the Africa secretariat has not received any formal communication regarding such a significant decision, noting that It is customary for member federations to inform the AFBC of any strategic decisions or affiliations, especially one of this magnitude.
He revealed that he had written to the Nigeria Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh to use his position as the number one sports administrator to investigate and help provide accurate information on the matter.
He also also called on the House, and Senate Committee on sports to summon Minimah and the Federation Secretary to come explain how they came about the decision to attempt to pull Nigeria out of IBA.
You may also want to recall that it was on account of the purported attempt to withdraw NBF that informed IBA to suspend the former Nigeria boxing president. According to the IBA, Lt. General Minimah action fell foul of their rules which include, a breaches of Article 5.2 of the IBA Membership Policy, Article 11.1(h) of the IBA Constitution, Article 15 (Violation of Constitution and Regulations), Article 20 (Disparagement of IBA’s Reputation and Interests), Article 41 (Participation in other international boxing associations or organizations), and Article 46 (Abuse of Position) of the IBA Disciplinary and Ethics Code.