A round peg in a round hole

A round peg in a round hole

By Clem Oluwole

A round peg in a round hole!

That simply describes the appointment of Mr. Richard A. Shonekan as the first Director of Sports for the Plateau State Sports Council.

With this appointment, according to an official statement in Jos last week, the council has been given an autonomous status and merged with the Military Governor’s Office “only for general policy directives”.

This new development is indeed a remarkable milestone in the history of sports in Plateau State.

This column identifies with this development. And it is pertinent here to refer to some comments I have made in this column about autonomy.

On October 11, last year, when the former Benue-Plateau State Sports Council was reconstituted, I did write: “A situation where you have to exchange files, but not as fast as one will exchange a relay baton, there can be no fast progress.”

On November 1, last year, I also wrote “… I am yet to be convinced that sports can function properly as an arm of a ministry. Our present-day sports and civil service procedure cannot go together. The edict establishing the council provides for autonomy. This should be vigorously pursued since the success and failure of the council largely depend on the support and freedom given to it”.

And about three weeks ago, I wrote again: “… As an interim step, this columnist believes that the council’s projects can be speedily implemented if carved out of the Ministry for Social Development and merged with the Military Governor’s Office”.

I also wrote in an earlier commentary that in the absence of a full-time chairman, the council should be headed by a director of sports who should be the chief executive of the council. I did point out that by so doing, the traditional power tussle between the directorate and the secretariat will be avoided since the secretary will be answerable to the director of sports.

Placing the secretary and director of sports at the same level is like putting two captains in the command of one ship. This should be guarded against.

As for the new director of sports, I have no doubt that the right man has been appointed for this challenging job.

Mr. Shonekan is a respected and diligent sports administrator. His name is synonymous with athletics in this country.

His sense of organization and direction is unique and his ability to handle any difficult situation is one of the greatest attributes that will help him in this arduous task.

I believe that given the necessary co-operation and support, the director will give sports in the state the much anticipated new lease of life.

This column also hopes that the new Benue State Government will emulate its Plateau counterpart by starting off its own sports council as a division in the Military Governor’s Office.

Happily enough, Governor Abdullahi Shelleng, like his Plateau counterpart, is a man whose interest in sports is limitless.

It is my considered view that sports will have a good start, if the council is brought closer to the governor.

The appointment of a director of sports should also receive the urgent attention of the government.

(Culled from Saturday Commentary, first published on March 6, 1976)