Declare state of emergency on sports, Ezeonwuka tells Obiano

The proprietor of Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has called on Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to declare a state of emergency on the sports sector.
Ezeonwuka made the call when he was addressing the leadership of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter, at the stadium in Oba, Idemili South on Tuesday.

He said sports administrators in the state had failed the youths because of their inability to conceptualise and implement programmes that are amenable to sporting excellence.
The ace sports facility investor said the N10 billion Rojenny complex was underutilised because such activities as inter house sports, school sports, state sports festival and other organised games were no more.

“I am calling on Gov. Obiano to declare state of emergency on sports and sports development In Anambra.

“I declare my lack of confidence in those that are in charge of sports management and administration in Anambra and hereby call for their sack and replacement with vibrant, creative, proactive and talented sports administrators.

“The youths of Anambra have been exposed to unbearable neglect, the sins of our various commissioners against them are unforgivable.
“Those that could have given this country gold at the world stage and make our state proud have been denied the opportunity to develop their potentials by our sport managers.

“I also call on the youths to forgive the governor because he has the youths at heart but his lieutenants in the battle field are weak and have not much to offer.
“Anybody who sees Rojenny Games Village which was built with over N10 billion lie idle and is not moved is an enemy of sports and youths. I invested in sports because I wanted to develop the youths and help government manage them, but today you can see the degree of neglect,” he stated with a tinge of regret.

Ezeonwuka enjoined SWAN in Anambra to work for the revival of sports in the state through effective and objective coverage of events as they remain the only hope of the people.
In his remark, the chairman of SWAN in Anambra, Anthony Oji, lauded Ezeonwuka for building one of the biggest sports complexes in the country since in 1986 in the interest of youth development. He added that SWAN decided to visit and inspect the facility to draw the attention of the world to it.

Also speaking, a veteran sports writer, Ikem Asika, wondered why Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has not been honoured by the Federal Government for his genuine contributions to sports development because most of the players of the 1993 Golden Eaglets started their football careers at Rojenny, yet government has not shown appreciation to him.