Aguma Explains Gift to Black Stars

MR. Igo Aguma, Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Friday described as "devilish" those behind the report that Gov. Peter Odili gave money to the Ghana Black Stars to influence the outcome of the July 29 World Cup encounter which the Ghanaians lost 0-3 to Nigeria in Port Harcourt.

"The Rivers State governor never visited any of the teams before the match let alone make promises," Aguma told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Friday in a telephone interview.

In a similar vein, NFA spokesman Austin Mgbolu said if the Black Stars received any monetary gift from the Rivers government after the match, the Nigeria Football Association did not authorise it.

"Such a gesture has nothing to do with the NFA. At best it was a personal show of friendship by Gov. Peter Odili, who only offered a venue for the World Cup match," Mgbolu, NFA's Head of Protocol and Public Relations, told NAN.

Agoma and Mgbolu's comments are coming on the heels of a Ghanaian evening newspaper report, confirmed by Mr. Ben Koufie, Ghana Football Association chairman, on Monday that Odili gave the Black Stars 25,000 dollars and other gifts at a reception in Port Harcourt after the match which Nigeria won 3-0.

"Initially, I was apprehensive and did not want to accept it. But when my counterpart told me it had nothing to do with the match, I took it," the Evening News" newspaper quoted Koufie as saying.

Koufie said he was given the impression that "it was the nature of the state governor to spend lavishly on visiting teams."

But Agoma said Odili had no ulterior motive when he hosted the Black Stars to a reception after the game.

"The government of Rivers as it is usual, organised a public banquet at which the Ghana team, friends of Nigeria and the international media attended after Nigeria had won the ticket.

"Everybody was entertained because it was a joyous occasion at which modest gifts were extended to Nigeria's national team, the Ghanaian team and Nigeria's Supporters Club," he said that a similar reception was held for the Sudanese when they came and that when a similar invitation was extended to the Liberians they failed to show up apparently in anger over their loss of the match.

"We considered their (Liberians) action as lacking in good sportsmanship," Aguma said.

He said the Rivers government had just donated N1 million to the national volleyball team as well as subsidise hotel accommodation of other contingents attending the ongoing 13th African Nations Cup Volleyball Championships in Port Harcourt.

"It is belittling and embarrassing for people to impute negative motives for the sportsman gesture of the state government," said Aguma.

"The desire of Rivers government is to build Port Harcourt into a tourism resort that it should be. The Governor's gesture was purely friendship and had nothing to do with the outcome of the match," he stressed.

Mgbolu was emphatic that the NFA was not involved in the matter.

"No money was given to anybody by the NFA. We completely dissociate the association from any such gifts," he said, adding the insinuations were the handiwork of Nigeria's detractors.

He said the NFA received 75,000 dollars from the Rivers government for the Super Eagles for winning a third consecutive World Cup ticket.

"A good gesture by the Rivers State Governor should not be misconstrued by enemies of Nigeria. "Nigeria has always been good hosts and NFA is aware of FIFA regulations and therefore could not have fallen prey to the evil assumptions of our detractors," he said.

"The Rivers State Governor did not make promises to the team before the match and therefore his gesture could not have been designed to fulfil any commitments," he said. Mgbolu noted that Liberia's reaction might not be unconnected with the fact that NFA protested against an alleged financial inducement to Sierra Leonean players, who were said to have received 5,000 dollars each to lose to Liberia on July 14.

Liberia won the match 1-0 in Freetown.

Meanwhile, Ghana's opposition parliamentarians have demanded a full inquiry into the report.

Opposition National Democratic Congress members parliament issued a statement demanding "full-scale investigations" and the immediate suspension of Koufie and deputy sports minister Joe Aggrey, who led the team to Port Harcourt.