Lack Of Accountability: Gombe Athletics Academy Withdraws From National Youth Games In Asaba

The founder of Gombe Athletics Academy (GAA), Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe,
has issued a warning to its athletes, stating that participating in the forthcoming 9th National Youth Games in Asaba will lead to disciplinary action.

Gara Gombe, who is also the chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, emphasised that the Academy will maintain its training and development agreements and will not hesitate to take action against athletes who disregard the boycott directive.

The Academy’s decision to boycott the National Youth Games is a response to the Sports Ministry’s failure to provide accountability for the £39 million released by the Gombe State government for the last National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Gara-Gombe also expressed concern regarding the attitude of state officials towards the activities of the Academy, including the decision to boycott the Gombe Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Competition, alongside their insistence that he pay to use the stadium—which he did.

Another reason he cited for the GAA’s boycott of the National Youth Games was betrayal by state officials. “I constructed 19 new toilets, renovated 15 existing ones, and restored electricity in all the classrooms at the school used as the Games Village during the festival. Yet, some government officials allegedly instigated JEDC officials to disconnect the electricity where over 2,500 young athletes were camped. We had to pay a bribe before power was restored.”

He further pointed out, “As Chairman of the State Athletics Association, we operated without a secretary for nine months, as one is usually appointed from the Ministry of Sports. The former secretary was withdrawn, and a replacement was never sent, which hindered our ability to meet formally, limiting our interactions to informal settings.”

Gara-Gombe also revealed, “During the AFN elections, I wrote a letter requesting support from the State Government through the Commissioner of Sports, addressed to the Acting Director of Sports and copied to the State Secretary to the Government. Up to now, I have not received any response, despite the fact that Yobe and Bauchi states were willing to offer their support.”

He continued, “However, during the elections, the Ministry of Sports sent an individual named Kabiru to impersonate me and vote on my behalf at the Bauchi Zonal Elections and the National Elections in Abuja. The Constitution of the AFN clearly outlines who is entitled to vote.”

Gara-Gombe, in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Friday, he revealed that all the athletes within the Academy were discovered and signed contracts with their parents. “We pay their school fees, provide uniforms, books, shoes, beverages, and medical insurance. Therefore, no student should join the State Contingent to Asaba.”

He added, “We have trained 60 primary school Games Masters and 54 secondary school Games Masters. Despite these efforts, we have never received a single commendation from the State.”

The former Gombe FA Chairman remarked, “At the last Youth Games, the state was unable to send a contingent. We had to fully sponsor our Academy athletes without a single penny from the state government, which saved the state from incurring a fine. Our athletes won medals for Gombe State, yet to this day, there has been no letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Sports.”

Gara-Gombe vowed to report these issues to the appropriate bodies for investigation, as the state government appears unwilling to take action.

He questioned why the State Secretary to the Government never honours invitations sent from the Academy or sends a representative, stating, “Yet, whenever the FA Chairman, Yakubu Sarma, organises any event, regardless of its relevance, the State Secretary attends without fail. I have records of my communications with the State Secretary.”

“I am continually surprised that the State Secretary, who often calls me to ask for patience whenever I voice complaints about certain issues in government, consistently ignores my official letters either requesting government support or inviting him to our events.”