By ADO SALISU
THIS year�s Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN),
Kano state chapter inter-media soccer competition for Governor Shekarau�s
Cup, has yet suffered another postponement following the inability of the
organisers to secure the release of N600,000 approved by the state
government for the competition.
The competition which is among media houses in the state,
was reschedule to kick off this weekend, but may not start because of
bureacratic bottle neck.
The association, worried over the delay in the release of
the funds, met with the state commissioner of information, youth, sports and
culture, Alhaji Garba Yusuf Abubakar, last week, to find the way out of the
logjam.
Alhaji Garba Abubakar, informed the association chairman,
Umaru Suleiman-led team, that the money would be released for the
competition which is in it sixth edition as soon as possible.
The association had complained, that despite the
inclusion of the request of the body in the approved supplementary budget,
the ministry of information was finding it difficult to meet the pledge.
Speaking on the issue, secretary of the association, Mr.
Mike Oboh, said he was confident that the money would be released based on
the assurance given by the honourable commissioner of information and
sports.
�You know the competition was schedule for July in our
programme of activities, the approval for the fund was given by the state
government, but unfortunately the vote of charge became the issue, and the
information ministry pushed it to the budget and planning ministry and good
enough it was included in the approved 2004 supplementary budget as we were
informed, so I don�t see the competition not holding.�
Mr. Oboh, also charged media executives in the state to
prepare their teams ahead of the competition as this would be the first
edition under the present administration in Kano state.
�We have had the competition under the military, past civilian
governments in the state and I believe this administration will not be an
exception, most especially with the contribution of SWAN to the sports
development programme of this government, and the sports friendly nature of
His Excellency, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau�.
