Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed outrage over Nigeria’s dismal performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, calling for an investigation into the “rascalities of leaders” that led to the team’s failure to win a single medal despite a N12 billion investment.
Obi stated, “Now that the Paris Olympics 2024 has officially ended and our dear Team Nigeria, despite the huge financial investment made into the project, is returning without a single medal, let me unreservedly register my displeasure with the performance of our team and their handlers… The rascality and recklessness that has continued to characterise leadership in our nation in nearly every department.”
He compared Nigeria’s performance to Jamaica’s, which spent less than 5% of Nigeria’s investment and won six medals.
“How can one explain that a country like Jamaica spent less than 5% of what we spent on our contingents for the Paris Olympics 2024 and won as many as 6 medals. Yet with our huge financial investments and large contingent, we could not win even a single medal?”
Obi highlighted instances of mismanagement, including the removal of Favour Ofili’s name from the list of athletes and Annette Echikunwoke’s switch to the US due to frustration with Nigerian sporting authorities.
He also alleged that injured athletes and sports officials who had no reason to be at the Olympics received estacodes, while athlete Ese Ukpeseraye had to borrow a bicycle to compete.
Obi emphasized the need to address the issues of competence and capacity in Nigeria’s leadership.
