By Uzor Odigbo
Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) former vice President Olamide George has taken over as the acting president of the federation following a unanimous decision of Board members after suspending incumbent President Shehu Gusau.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Board meeting at the Board’s secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
During their deliberations the board members frowned at Gusau’s refusal to pay athletes, coaches and other official’s allowances, also cited Gusau’s alleged violation of the AFN constitution to usurp the powers and functions of the Secretary General by allegedly changing the password of the email thereby denying the secretary since April 2019 to perform his lawful duties.
Other reasons given for Gusau’s suspension was in the agreement the president entered into with sports wear manufacturer, PUMA without documentation.
The suspended AFN boss he said, signed the deal without the knowledge and signature of the secretary general who suppose to be a custodian of all AFN documents.
The AFN Board also announced Brown Ebewele as the technical direction of the federation while Mr Okon Gabriel is the new performance director.
Meanwhile, former AFN technical director Sunday Adeleye said in an interview that the decision to recall him would contested.
While the former President has as usual maintained an unglorified silence.
Athletes in their thausands welcomed the development but urged the new board hasten preparations for the Tokyo Olympics as time is lost already through politics.