Credit: Facebook
Nigerians have been dragging the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare all over the internet for what they called the shoddy handling of Nigeria’s participation in the ongoing Olympics taking place in Tokyo Japan.
The minister is accused of incompetence and egomaniac among other things.
The trigger was the letter by the international fashion and sportswear brand, PUMA, terminating its agreement with Nigeria following the alleged failure of Nigerian athletes at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics to wear the provided kits.
PUMA announced the contract termination in a letter signed by Edlheimb Manuel, the company’s director on August 4, 2021.
The letter partly reads: “We are referring to the licensing and sponsoring agreement signed between our company and your federation.
“As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.
“PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals.”
The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had signed a $2.7m deal with Puma in July 2019 in Qatar.
The contract stated that PUMA would supply kits and outfits to Nigeria’s athletics team for 4 years at no expense and also offer $15,000 to Gold Medalists, $5,000 to silver medalists and $3000 to bronze medalists.
The contract termination followed an alleged leadership tussle between the Ibrahim Gusau-led AFN board and the minister, Sunday Dare.
As a fallout of the crisis, Dare was said to have vowed that the Nigerian Athletes at the Olympics would wear the PUMA kits.
Nollywood actrss, Uche Jombo Rodriguez, tweeting with her verified handle @uchejombo, wrote: “In a Real world Sunday Dare will have tendered his resignation for this Olympic handling but Naija na film.”
@SavvyRinu, tweeted: “Let’s get this right. Sunday Dare took our athletes to Tokyo without tests, kits, moral, made them lose deals, medals, careers, many couldn’t compete because of a power tussle with another Nigerian?? This man took this smelly APC politics behaviour to the Olympics?
“This guy refused to obey a judgement, upheld by an appeal court, recognizing Gusau as the AFN President because he’s in support of another. Everything Gusau tried to arrange, the tests, the PUMA sponsorship etc, was sabotaged as he isn’t Sunday Dare’s person??
“This is obscene!”
@Mbahdeyforyou: “Sunday Dare is a big disgrace to this country
@firstladyship wrote: “PUMA terminated its 4yr contract with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria over breach of contract, but I can tell you Sunday Dare will not resign. Solomon Dalung did not resign, the next minister after Dare, will not resign as well. This is Nigeria, a country of zero consequence.”
Pamilerin Adegoke tweeting with his handle, @UnclePamilerin wrote:
“Let’s be clear. So Mr Sunday Dare is the problem and reason for the termination of the PUMA contract. Let’s start holding people accountable.”
@simplyEromz: “We thought no one could top Solomon Dalung. Then Sunday Dare happened. If you think no one can be worse than Buhari, you are gonna be in for a huge surprise. Get your PVC!”
@aniefioketimMyk: I’m amazed that there can be a Minister of Sports worse than Solomon Dalung. Dalung was so bad that I prayed he be changed, I was like “after all it can’t get any worse. I was so wrong. Unbelievable that Sunday Dare turned out worse. Buhari really knows where to find them.”
