The Deputy Governor of Edo State and the Chairman Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the ongoing National Sports Festival christened EDO 2020, Philip Shuaibu said Nigerians should blame the Federal Government for the interim shut down due to lack of commitment on their part.
Shuaibu said this on Thursday while addressing Journalists at the Media Center of the event.
According to him ” the planned shut down of the National Sports festival is not due to non preparation from the state government nor that the facilities are not up to standard but due to lack of commitment from the Federal Government through the body language of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports
He pointed out that during the series of the postponements which cost them a lot of money that the Minister of Youth and Sports made firm promises of financial commitment to them to alleviate their losses, this he said prompted them to engage some vendors and service providers who are now on their neck for payment as agreed.
The LOC Chairman reiterated that if noting concrete is done in terms of full commitment from the Federal Government, they will shut down Samuel Ogbemudia stadium complex which is the administrative hub of the event and again if by Friday nothing is done all the activities will be shut down because their contractors are threatening for their payment.
Shuaibu who denied any political undertone lamented that his LOC has been kept in the dark as par how much has been approved by the Presidency which would have given latitude to use the instrument and source for funds.
Also Read: Edo 2020: Sports festival may end tomorrow if funds are unavailable
He also reported that since the commencement of the sporting events there has not been any communication between his committee and the Ministry, thus giving room for suspicion.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
