I WAS going through my email when I noticed the sudden appearance of a new massage in my in-box. At first, I ignored it but later decided to open and see what it is all about. So by the time I clicked and opened it, I noticed that it was a copy of a letter written to the chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission.
By the time I went through its content, I found it highly disastrous and disturbing because something wrong is about to or is happening in Kano’s sports arena. The content of the letter also delineates that all is not well with the much publicized and much awaited maiden edition of Aspira Kano Heritage Marathon.
I came to the conclusion that something is wrong and seriously and ultimately jeopardizing the flag-off of the maiden edition of Aspira Kano Heritage Marathon. And it is obvious that unless something is done urgently to save or rescue the situation, the competition may not hold.
As it is thrice, the competition was postponed because of some unnecessary ‘power play’ within the organising committee.
Crisis first forced itself into the main committee of the competition, when its chairman was unjustly removed on the request of one of the committee members without cogent reason(s) which did not sit well with so many people, within and outside the committee.
One may wonder what kind of dangerous power play will be invited in such an important event, with a willing and committed sponsor ready to splash millions for the success of the event, and many more, within and outside the state, have indicated interest to participate.
Below is a copy of the letter, which triggered this conversation:
Dated on 3rd February 2023 and sent to the chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission; the letter was written by Massrs Farouk I. Umar Esq., Fatima Lawan Esq., A.M. Tukur Esq., Abdullahi T. Ibrahim Esq. and PP: F.I. Umar & Co. (all Seasoned Attorneys) and titled:
RE-THE COMMISSION RESOLUTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE NAMES OF OUR CLIENT IN THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE OF KANO HERITAGE MARATHON AND ITS FLAGRANT ABUSE AND VIOLATION OF TERMS OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING EXECUTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.
The above caption matter refers: We are solicitors to Hon. Abdurrasheed Saleh Michika, Hon. Alex Osaka and others of the organizing committee (herein after referred to as “our clients”) and on their express instruction, we write you this letter.
It is our clients’ brief that they are bonafide nominees and members of constituted organizing committee of Kano Heritage Marathon scheduled to hold on 11th February 2023 which is a joint project between your commission and Bunubunu Culture and Supporting Company Limited.
That it is an established and undisputed facts that our clients are the pioneers and promoters of the project and they had worked tirelessly over the years toward the success of the project/program. Our clients’ financial and moral commitments, dedication and sincerity to see that the project has become successful and colorful cannot be over emphasized.
It may be recalled that a memorandum of understanding was duly executed between your commission and Bunubunu Culture and Supporting Company LTD, where terms and specifications on how the project shall be implemented were co-opted to bind the parties.
The said memorandum of understanding has made adequate provisions on the obligations, duties, functions and entitlements of all person concerned in the project and in particular the composition of the organizing committee.
We have meticulously gone and scrutinized the said memorandum of understanding with microscopic eyes but unable to decipher any provision which empowers you or member of your commission to assume chairmanship of the organizing committee.
The memorandum of understanding equally does not envisage a situation where Bunu Bunu Supporting Company LTD can alter or modify its representation in the organizing committee as it purportedly sought to do now by its letter dated 12th January 2022.
In the same vein, we consider your concession to cede the chairmanship position of the organizing committee as per your letter dated 9th December 2022 a flagrant abuse and uncondonable breach of the memorandum of understanding in terms of composition of the organizing Committee.
Our attention has equally been drawn to your purported resolution to shut-down banks accounts opened for the purpose of the program which our clients are the lawful signatories to replace same with new ones.
We submit that the purported resolution is against the set goals, yarning and aspirations designed to achieve in the project. We equally see and qualify your purported action in that regard as unilateral and arbitrary decision to serve your interest, the interest of some selected members of the organizing committee and other stake holders of the project to the detriment of our clients.
It is in the light of the foregoing, we passionately call upon you to abide by the terms and specifications set out in the MOU duly executed to govern the implementation of the project under review.
We therefore demand for the following on behalf of our clients:-
The immediate reinstatement of Hon. Abdurrasheed Saleh Machika as chairman of the organizing committee in line with provisions of the MOU duly executed to bind the parties.
Allowing the organizing committee to carry out their functions and powers and operate without any external interference.
Scraping any other account subsequently opened to receive money or any other financial benefit for the project from the sponsors.
Recognition of the accounts opened by the promoters and organizing committee as the surviving accounts to operate for the project.
TAKE NOTE that your failure to meet our demands above and abide by your terms will leave us with no option but to take drastic legal action to enforce our clients’ rights and recover all the financial benefits due to them from the project if implemented.
We hope you will heed and act wisely to avoid the consequences of our contemplated legal action.
The letter ends.
After thoroughly going through the letter, I was confused and perturbed no end, and several unanswered questions pop in my head.
In the first instance, I can’t understand why Kano State Sports Commission, an agency set-up by the government to regulate sports activities in the state will dragged itself into such a mess capable of tarnishing its good image.
Honestly, I am not comfortable with the content of the letter sent to the Sports Commission’ chairman because had it been the commission consulted it’s own lawyers before taking such drastic decision, I am sure they won’t allow them to do so.
To me, the commission is there to guide and put things in order and not to spoil them especially now that the government is fully encouraging private participation in so several sectors.
We are all aware that the commission is supposed to be very busy with lots of activities especially now that the government of the day is about to wind-up.
If my calculation serves my right, the commission has more than 30 sports associations to look after with also Kano Pillars Football Club to oversee since last year after their management team were sacked by the government.
By now, like any other agency in the state, the commission is expected to be busy preparing handover notes to incoming new administration.
With all these and many others, I can’t see any reason why the commission should involved itself with these kind of crisis that will smear its good name.
As I stated above, the sports commission is there to regulate sports and if it found any wrong(s) with anything, it supposed to correct it but not to plot a coup and add another burden on itself by taking the responsibility of managing it.
And whoever told or advised the commission to infringe in the Marathon activities which brought hiccups in the whole competition did not do well. I advised the commission to as a matter of urgency and interest of sports in the state to revert everything to status-quo without delay.
The commission should not allowed itself be used for unwarranted and selfish power tussle that will ridicule and smear its image and give it a bad name.
To me, the power to manage their activities as enshrined in the signed MOU should be respected and return back to the bonafide members of the committee as the lawyers requested.
The commission should not allow the lawyers to drag this case to court because it has its good name and that of those that have already collected participating document and even pay registration fees to protect.
A stitch in time…
