Gumel promises reforms in NOC if re-elected

Incumbent president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, has promised to engineer reforms of the committee if re-elected for another term.

Speaking at the weekend, Gumel said changes were needed to make the NOC more vibrant and alive to the yearnings of the stakeholders, insisting that the NOC constitution would be reviewed to make the body more vibrant.

Pledging more inclusiveness through the body’s 10 commissions, Gumel said: “It is not an easy process, but we just have to do it so that more people will join to strengthen the entire system.

“There will be a review of the constitution and this will also be evaluated by the board after which we will also take it all to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for approval.

“Each of the commissions have members in different areas like technical, education, etc. but we want to boost them for better operations.’’

On the forthcoming NOC December 15 elections in Jalingo, Taraba State, Gumel expressed optimism of getting the nod again, just as he spoke on the widespread insinuation that he has lost his voting rights in the IOC.   

“People are saying that I’m an ordinary member of Nigeria and I can’t vote. It is not true. There is no seat for other countries, there’s nothing like that. It’s not like United Nations or African Union. Note that people are elected in their country.

“I am a member in my own country, it’s the same here, It’s not a right, they have the right to choose from any country. We have 54 countries, but we have only 15 IOC members, you can see the ratio.

“It’s not automatic, it’s not a right. I am the one lobbying now to get additional members because some countries in Europe have two. I am lobbying through my connections,” Gumel said.

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