Members of the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja have appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to consider their request for the reopening of the club. This plea follows a week-long petition signing initiative held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, during which over 2,000 members voiced their support for the club’s reopening.
The petition drive commenced on Tuesday at the stadium’s practice pitch and concluded on Saturday. The members underscored the significance of reopening the club and praised the President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, for forming a committee led by AVM B.D. Solomon to spearhead reconciliation efforts and the petition signing campaign.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Golf Club has been facing a leadership crisis, which resulted in the postponement of its 2025 Annual General Meeting and elections. The intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was prompted by these internal challenges. On April 5, Wike appointed Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, as the Chair of the club’s Board of Trustees, succeeding Gen. IBM Haruna. Additional members of the newly appointed Board include Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Mrs Grace Ihonvbere, S.I. Ameh (SAN), Hamid Abbo, Admiral Victor Adedipe (rtd), Chief Patrick Chidolue, Mr Ben Ikokwu, and Adumu Suleiman. Former Board members Gen. Haruna, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Dr Tim Menakaya, and Amb. Babagana Kingibe have been designated as Patrons of the club.
Wike’s intervention reflects the FCT Administration’s commitment to restoring order and efficiency to the esteemed club, which has recently encountered internal strife. However, three members, dissatisfied with Wike’s actions, secured an interim court order preventing the Minister from inaugurating the new Board of Trustees chaired by Justice Dongban-Mensem.
On April 24, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on the ongoing leadership dispute at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, restraining the trustees appointed by Wike from presiding over the club’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 26.
To help stabilise the situation, Minister Wike appointed a ten-member Interim Management Committee (IMC), chaired by Peter Deshi, to oversee the club’s administration. In a bid to prevent further unrest, the Federal Government deployed personnel from the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to secure the premises, which remains under close surveillance. Access is restricted to essential personnel, including security staff and groundskeepers, with identification checks required for IMC members as well.
Members who supported the Minister’s intervention expressed their eagerness for the club to resume operations, citing its importance to both the community and the nation. Iyabo Adebola highlighted that the members’ appeal emphasises the urgency for a swift resolution to the crisis and the reopening of the club, which serves as a crucial recreational and social hub in Abuja.
Adebola stated that the members were willing to comply with the Minister’s conditions for reopening, clarifying that they were not involved in the legal action taken against him. “We are appealing to the FCT Minister to kindly consider our request to reopen the IBB International Golf and Country Club, as we are not part of the few individuals who took legal action against him. We acknowledge that the club is government-owned and are ready to adhere to the Minister’s conditions for reopening. We have been fully briefed by the NGF President about the Minister’s intentions and support for the club.”
Nuhu Ahmad remarked that the petition signing exercise is a promising step towards resolving the ongoing leadership crisis that led to the club’s closure. He assured that members are prepared to comply with the Minister’s conditions while recognising the government’s ownership of the club. “Reopening the club is essential not only for our health but also for the social connections and camaraderie we share as members. We concur with the Minister that operations cannot return to normal immediately; there will be strict compliance regarding club membership. We also extend our gratitude to the Board of Trustees Chairman and the board members for their maturity and respect for the law.”
Matta Ushani added that reopening the club would positively impact the community by providing a space for socialisation, leisure, and sports. A.U. Bala conveyed that the closure had adversely affected members’ well-being, who are eager to resume their activities and enjoy the club’s facilities. Pius James expressed optimism about finding a resolution to the crisis and restoring the club’s usual operations.
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, NGF President and Board member, expressed gratitude to all members who participated in the petition. He explained that the few individuals who pursued legal action misunderstood the Minister’s good intentions, emphasising that all his decisions were aimed at supporting the club’s growth and development. He noted that the Board of Trustees received two key mandates from the FCT Minister: to organise a successful election and to amend the constitution to align with current realities.
“The Minister also promised to support the club, enhancing its facilities to meet international standards, once the Board of Trustees achieves these two primary objectives. By participating in this petition signing exercise, our members have agreed to comply with all the Minister’s conditions through the newly appointed Board members of the club,” he stated.
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