Ekiti Athletes Get New Kits, State Assembly Probes Officials
Team Ekiti on Wednesday unveiled their new kits at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba in what is a reparation for their show of shame at the opening ceremony of the Games on Saturday, where viral pictures online showed their athletes during the march-past wearing different shades of pants and slippers on white T-shirts.
The new kits will be used by the athletes during the closing ceremony on Saturday.
This comes as the Ekiti State House of Assembly began investigation into the kits scandal that rocked the state’s camp in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Chairman, House Committee on Youths and Sports, Idowu Odebunmi, expressed the House’s dissatisfaction with the negligence of the sports council officials resulting in the misrepresentation of the state.
Odebunmi, who said at the Parliamentary Session on Tuesday evening that the probe was initiated to ensure accountability, transparency and adherence to standards in representing Ekiti State, assured that the House would follow it to logical conclusion.
The committee, however, directed the state’s sports council general manager, Adekuble Adeyemi, to come back with all his senior officials upon their return from the event.
The chairman stated that the committee’s report would be submitted to the House after the conclusion of its investigation for further legislative action.
Adeyemi, who was recalled from the games following the outcry in Ekiti that greeted the kits scandal, apologised for the embarrassment caused the state at the opening ceremony.
The GM, however, stated that the sports council would continue to do its best to move sports forward in Ekiti.
He thanked the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration for support to the sports council, stating that N20m was promptly approved for the Games by Governor Oyebanji, less than 24 hours after submitting the approval.
Meanwhile, following the show of shame, more revelations have emerged on the poor preparations of the contingent ahead of the Games.
It was learnt from sources within the team’s camp in Asaba and Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, that the 100 athletes representing the state were not camped prior to the Games while they had poor or no facilities to train at all.
The athletes shabby outfits led to the General Manager of Ekiti State Sports Council, Adekunle Adeyemi, being recalled by Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Sunday, while the Ekiti State House of Assembly also summoned him and top officials in the sports council to appear before it on Tuesday.
While the sports council boss and his officials are under fire, the athletes have continued their business in Asaba by progressing in their respective events.
