•Minister insists on public retraction of bribery allegation
The proposed plans to reconcile former Cruiserweight Boxing Champion,
Bash Ali and the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi broke down yesterday
as recalcitrant Bash Ali refused to apologise publicly to the Minister
at a meeting brokered by Ali’s Manger and popular Musician Mr. Omotshola
Itse.
Abuja based sports reporters had anxiously gathered at the
office of the Sports Minister to witness the outcome of the parley but
it wasn’t a successful one because Bash Ali refused to say in the public
glare that the Minister did not ask for monetary rewards to effect the
hosting of Ali’s proposed Guinness Book fight at the age of 57.
The
Special Assistant on Media to the Sports Minister however shed more
lights on the visit of the boxer to the Mnister. “Bash Ali was brought
to see the Minister by his Manager Mr. Omotshola Itse and they had a
private meeting with the Minister. Bash Ali apologized to the Minister
and told him he is sorry. The meeting was not deadlocked.
“The only
snagged there was that the Minister asked him (Bash Ali) he (the
Minister) indeed asked Bash Ali for money before the fight could be
staged but he (Bash Ali) couldn’t talk. He wasn’t willing to say that he
lied on the Minister. Maybe Bash Ali didn’t want to say he lied in
order to protect his reputation”, the Minister spokesman disclosed in
Abuja yesterday
Recalcitrant Bash Ali said to the sporting press
that gathered to cover his apologies to the Honourable Sports Minister,
“It may still happen because Nigeria is bigger than all of us. One man
(Sports Minister) can’t stop the show.
But his Manager, veteran
musician Omotshola Itse popularly known as Tee Mac came to Bas Ali
rescue, “Mr. Aghalieaku Arinze, Mr. Osita Ofor also known as Ultimate
Commander and I are planning The Night of the Legends. We came to
discuss with the Honourable (Sports) Minister yesterday (Monday) about
the bouts but the Minister revealed that Bash Ali made some
uncomplimentary remarks about him and Bash has to come ion person to
apologise.
The Minister met with Bash Ali today (Tuesday) and say he
has forgiven Bash Ali but he asked Al when did he asked him for money
for the fight to hold. He said that is what bothers him because he as a
Minister has reputation and has never in his life asked any body for
money (bribes). But unfortunately Mr. Bash Ali couldn’t answer that
question and that is why the discussion broke down. Bas said that at the
appropriate time they will discuss that.
“But the appropriate time
should have been today. The question the Minister asked Mr. Bash Ali
couldn’t answer and because of this the discussion broke down. We have
been trying to make peace with the Minister because we still nee his
blessings for this Night of Legends to hold. Even if the National Sport
Commission is not organising professional fights it is proper that a big
event like this has the enabling environment such as the backing of the
Presidency through the Honourable Minister of Sports. I am a little
disappointed that the meeting we held today was not successful”, Tee Mac
disclosed.
Source: The Nation
