Jonathan in fitness walk, pledges special funds for sports

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday
promised to institute a special fund for
the country’s sports sector if re-elected
for a second term on March 28.
Jonathan made the promise while
addressing sportsmen and others at a
solidarity rally organised for him at the
Eagle Square, Abuja.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo in his short
remark at the event said Nigeria could not
afford to be governed by a 73-year-old
President.
The event put together by a Non-
Governmental Organisation, Desire for
Greatness Foundation, saw the President
walking from the Presidential Villa, Abuja
to the Eagle Square.
He was joined in the long walk by Sambo
and President of the Senate, David Mark,
among other top government officials and
presidential aides.
The President said the special fund would
serve as stop gap for the trainings of the
nation’s sportsmen before their budgets
are approved.
He added that the fund would also be
used to bring succour to sports men and
women who have brought glory to the
nation but suddenly found themselves in
need.
He said, “To strengthen sporting activities
in Nigeria further, there are some areas
that we need to look into and I promise
that when we come back, we are going to
set up a special fund that will handle
these special areas.
“I have identified about five areas that we
must look at. I realised that sometimes
when we have major tournaments,
because of government budgeting and
files movement, training periods are
delayed. We want to make sure that we
stop that by setting up a special fund that
can serve as a stop gap.
“One other thing I realised from our
interactions with sportsmen and women
from my days in Bayelsa State to the
centre here is that some of them want
special training programmes that their
federation cannot fund and they won’t
have money to do that. We must stop
that.
“Some other ones want to improve their
professional career. Because they are so
committed to sports, they may not go to
university at the time they should have
gone. So when they want to go, they may
not have the money. We must have fund
for that.
“Another area is that some of them get
injured and can no longer participate and
sometimes, they are left on their own. We
must get some funds to take care of such
people.
“Another one that I have identified is that
some people have made this country
proud. Sport is one key thing that brings
unity to this country. Whenever our
sportsmen are playing, we don’t
discriminate.
“We must set up a fund to make sure that
nobody who made this country proud will
be a beggar.”
Jonathan also promised that his
administration would strengthen sports
institutions such as the National Sports
Institute in Lagos and Abuja.
He said in developing the institutions, his
government would not depend on an
annual budget with its yearly change in
benchmark.
He said the management of the fund
would be in the hands of the private
sector so that it would continue to grow
and take care of all the areas that he had
identified.
President Jonathan said his government
would continue to budget for fund but
the intervention funds was needed to
complement what government budgets
annually.
“That will give us the opportunity to take
care of these areas that we have
identified. My conviction is that when
these areas are properly handled, Nigeria
will begin to dominate sporting activities
globally,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Sambo, in his short remarks,
said Nigeria could not afford to be
governed by a 73-year-old President.
“I don’t think this country deserves a 73-
year-old President. Jonathan should carry
go,” the Vice President declared in a
veiled remark directed at the presidential
candidate of the All Progressives
Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.).
Others who spoke included the Minister
of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo; Director-
General, National Sports Commission,
Gbenga Elegbeleye; football stars,
Augustine Eguavoen and Joseph Yobo as
well as Mary Onyali.
Jonathan and his men started the long
walk from the gate of his official
residence inside the Presidential Villa,
Abuja at about 7.15am.
With members of the nation’s Paralympics
leading the way, Jonathan arrived the
Eagle Square at about 7:50am to a loud
ovation by those already at the venue.
Nigerian musicians such as Skales and
Omawunmi thrilled the audience with
their performances.
The President also participated in light
aerobics led by Yobo.