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Abdullahi asks Bash Ali to apologise
Abdullahi asks Bash Ali to apologise
Posted by: Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja in Sports 6 hours ago 0

•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 newspapers.