Contrary to his claim of quitting over interference by Ministry officials, former board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Evangelist Solomon Ogba resigned his membership of the board because of fresh investigation into corruption in the federation.
Ogba announced his resignation on Monday within hours of alleged reports that the AFN collected World Athletics’ $150,000 grant for the 21st African Championships in Athletics held in Asaba in 5th August last year.
The former board member launched a media offensive early Monday, saying “Ministry People” interference in AFN matters informed his decision to quit but sources in the ministry have said he is stretching the imagination.
One of the sources queried why Ogba waited until the discovery of the new round of missing $150,000 before bolting noting that the issues he used as excuse have been on for several weeks without him expressing concerns.
The source said, “The $150,000 scared Ogba to resign his board membership and the thing is that the amount is even the tip of the iceberg. At this rate he will run out of the country when the anti-corruption agencies confront him with other discoveries.”
A second source however differed on the reason for Ogba’s resignation, which he described as strategic.
According to the source, “Ogba is smart and he knows the strategic thing is to insulate or distance himself from the embattled AFN President (Engineer Shehu) Gusau.
“The Ministry under the current dispensation is asking too much probing questions and if more dirty linen will be dragged into the public now is a good time for Ogba to abandon Gusau. It is well known that the duo, with the connivance of others had held AFN by the jugilar. It won’t serve his interest to be dragged down with the President now,” the source explained.