AFN’s endorsement of Gusau for CAA Presidency splits stakeholders

Ibrahim Musa Gusau

• CAA Region II is behind Kalkaba, says official The decision by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to endorse erstwhile president of the body, Shehu Ibrahim Gusau, to contest for the presidency of the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA), seems to have divided stakeholders in the nation’s athletics.

Gusau wrote to the AFN last week during its yearly General Congress, in Abuja, seeking nomination and endorsement to contest for the CAA top position in the election scheduled to hold in April in Zambia. He will be the first Nigerian in over two decades to vie to be president of CAA.

AFN Secretary General, Rita Mosindi, told The Guardian that Gusau has been endorsed to contest for the position, saying that his victory at the poll will benefit Nigerian athletics.

“The AFN has given Gusau the clearance he needs to contest in the CAA election, and we believe that if he wins, it will have a great impact on our athletics,” Mosindi stated.

However, some stakeholders are kicking against the endorsement on the ground that a Nigerian does not need to push for such position for now.

Those who spoke with The Guardian were of the opinion that since a Nigerian, Chief Tonobok Okowa, recently emerged as new president of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA Region II) in Ghana, it is ‘unwise’ for the country to endorse another Nigerian to vie for the CAA presidency.

“A Nigerian just emerged as president of CAA Region II, and the country is endorsing another Nigerian to vie to become President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA). I don’t see any wisdom in it.

“This same Gusau has not been having a good relationship with the AFN for about two years now. He is only trying to be nice now because of his