A former Hammer thrower, Gabriel Opuana, has called on detractors to stop making baseless claims against the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and instead focus on fostering unity of purpose to aid sports development in Nigeria.
Opuana’s statement comes in response to recent claims made by Dare Esan, a former board member and spokesman of the AFN, against the federation and its President, Chief Tonobok Okowa.
Opuana described Esan’s claims as “baseless and unsubstantiated” and urged him to refrain from disparaging the AFN. “Someone like Esan who had long benefited from the goodwill of the AFN should not be crying wolf where there is none,” Opuana said.
He added that the AFN needs sponsorship to support athletes’ welfare and help them perform at their peak, but detractors are bent on scaring away potential sponsors with their baseless claims.
Opuana stressed the importance of praising and encouraging those making significant contributions to sports in Nigeria. “While it is necessary to expose and address corruption in sports, it is also important to praise and encourage those making significant contributions to sports in Nigeria,” he said.
Opuana has called on the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to call Esan to order, citing his reports and actions towards the AFN as unprofessional and detrimental to the growth of athletics in Nigeria.
Opuana is a seasoned sports coach and prominent figure in Nigerian athletics. He has represented Nigeria on numerous international platforms, coaching athletes in prestigious competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
He currently serves as the President of the Nigerian Coaches Association (NCA) and is dedicated to improving the training and development of Nigerian coaches.
