Facts have emerged on why the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, stayed away from the closing ceremony of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival which ended on Wednesday.
According to a close source within the ministry, “Checks revealed that due to the antics of the Edo state deputy governor and the hostile attitude of the host state since last week, the minister decided to cancel his appearance at the closing ceremony.
“Last Wednesday, hostilities got to a head with the threat by Edo state to shut down the Festival, throwing out Staff of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development from the Main Organising Committee (MOC) secretariat at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on the orders of the deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, after security men stormed the place in a commando style.
“Though later resolved, the deputy governor continued to heat up the place demanding for money from the federal government. But documents confirmed that what the Edo state government presented to the ministry was a plea for assistance, which it promised to consider.
“What the federal government promised to consider was not a pledge, neither a loan as no agreement was ever signed.
“However, the deputy governor had gone about it in a combative manner which made some stakeholders of the just concluded fiesta expressing concerns that “the Deputy Governor was misinforming people that the Federal Government owes the Edo government.”
Edo state government was yet to react as at the time of filling this report.
