Petty Politics: ‘Kwara’s security is precarious, we can’t guarantee safety of participants’, Kwara Govt, Police tell organisers of Toyin Saraki’s sponsored Baseball championship to cancel tournament
Less than 24 hours to the commencement of the 2nd edition of the Toyin Ojora-Saraki Baseball and Softball championship and health talk in Ilorin, the Kwara State government and the State Police Command have told the organisers to suspend the competition, saying that they cannot guarantee safety of the participants.
The championship which was billed to hold from Sunday, 15 January to 20 January, 2022 is supported by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa founded by Barrister Toyin Ojora Saraki who is the wife of former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
The organisers of the sporting event, Double T Baseball and Softball said they were shocked and disappointed by the order of the Kwara State government and the State Police Command asking them to cancel the competition without considering all the efforts they had put into hosting it.
In a statement signed by the Vice Chairman of the Association’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Rasheed Olowoshile, the organisers said the decision of the State government was politically motivated and wondered why such a national sporting competition would be stopped on the altar of politics.
Read the full statement from the organisers below:
“On behalf of the Board of Trustee and entire Management of Double T Baseball and Softball Nigeria, I am using this opportunity to notify the general public that the 2nd edition of Toyin Ojora Saraki Baseball and Softball championship and Health Talk, supported by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, earlier scheduled to hold on 15th to 20th January 2023 has been postponed.
“Yesterday, as organisers and implanting partners, we received an oral invitation from the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Paul Odama, and the Kwara State Police Command to present ourselves at Police Headquarters for a meeting.
“On getting to the State Police Headquarters, we were confronted by the full apparatus of the Kwara State Government such as political appointees of the State Government, Special Assistants to the Governor of Kwara State, officers of the Kwara Sport Commission and officers of the Kwara State Baseball and Softball Association.
“In what appeared to connote overly political overtones, the Double T Baseball and Softball Organisation was ordered to immediately stop and cease implementation the 2nd edition of Her Excellency, Barrister, Toyin Saraki National Baseball and Softball Championship, run by Double T Baseball and International Partners, scheduled to take place this January, following the qualifying matches throughout the 4th quarter of 2022.
“Spending almost 5 hours at the Police Headquarters, debating back and forth with Kwara State Government officials, who appeared not to comprehend that as philanthropic non-governmental organisers, we are not only apolitical, but also committed to youth development through sports in alignment with the safe schools targets of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in implementing the 2nd year of this impactful program which has been exceedingly well received by thousands of students, and their participating schools, families and communities.
“However we were informed that the Kwara State Police Command considers the security situation on the state to be precarious, despite the much vaunted peace accord and therefore is are not in a position to guarantee security of young participants or organisers.
“Surprised and disappointed by the unwarranted political intonation of the mandated Police Command invitation and meeting, we have duly informed our donors and benefactors including the principal sponsor, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa Founder, Our Mother, Her Excellency Barrister Toyin Ojora Saraki who prioritises the safety and security of lives.
“Therefore, considering the safety, security and peaceful learning of the children, participants, and organisers to be paramount, the Double T Baseball and Softball Association has taken a resolution to suspend and postpone the national tournament, scheduled to hold at Ilorin Kwara State until such time as the Kwara State Police Command can guarantee the safety and security of young students participants and organisers, notwithstanding the significant inconvenience caused by this suddenly received oral state police advisory.
“The next line of action will be communicated in due course.”
Sincerely
-Alh Rasheed Olowoshile, Vice Chairman Board of Trustees
