₦airaland Forum

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has insisted that Favour Ofili’s decision to switch allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey was financially motivated, contrary to the athlete’s claims.

Okowa, in an interview with ESPN, explained that both World Athletics and the sprinter had communicated the decision to them.

“They have officially informed us. Both World Athletics and the athlete herself,” he said.

However, he reportedly dismissed Ofili’s explanation that her move was due to repeated negligence by Nigerian sports administrators at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Instead, he said her choice was purely financial.


“Ofili herself knows the whole truth. This is all about money. She and her coach are trying to make some money,” Okowa told ESPN.

The AFN boss added that he had no objection to Ofili’s personal choice but took issue with the reasons she publicly gave.

“I don’t see anything wrong with that, but as far as I am concerned, if she wants to go, it’s okay. She’s an adult, but she should stop using these reasons as her excuse,” he said.


Okowa also drew attention to other athletes who have switched allegiance to Turkey in recent times.

“Okay, the Kenyans and Jamaicans that are going to Turkey, what reasons do they have? Let her go in peace. She’s an adult; she has the right to make her decision if she wants to switch allegiance or not,” he said.

Ofili had announced on social media that she would now represent Turkey after years of competing for Nigeria, citing disappointment with the AFN and the Nigeria Olympic Committee as the main reason for her decision.

She highlighted her exclusion from competition in Tokyo due to missed tests and the failure to register her for the women’s 100m event in Paris as major frustrations.

The 22-year-old, who holds the world record in the women’s 150m, stressed that her switch was heartfelt rather than financially driven. “I have made this decision. While that means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives,” she said in her statement.

Her defection adds to Nigeria’s long list of athletes who have switched nationalities in the past, including Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie, Florence Ekpo-Umoh, Salwa Eid Naser and Femi Ogunode, many of whom went on to flourish under their new flags.

Source: https://punchng.com/ofili-dumped-nigeria-for-turkish-money-okowa

Lol Absolutely not true. Nigeria failed her. She did what was necessary to preserve her career. If it's however about money, she's entitled to pursue it too. Why else does show work so hard?

Before nko yekini our greatest striker and peter rufia who is our greatest goalie both died as sad men.

Ofili carry go nothing do u

Hmmmm she hustling backwards. Euphrates is dried up

Na why BAT start to dey give them money o!

But people no see am!

At least she'll bring some of the FX to Nigeria!

No be entirely loss!

Whatever makes anybody happy....


No more character....

She made the right decision for herself..
How is it possible that she missed two tournaments owing to the institutional failure

I would have done same if I'm opportune. Abeg Seun help with the remaining

What is okowa working for if I may ask please because I don't understand.

The peter is a bloody liar.

Imagine on two occasions she was denied the opportunity to do what she loves.

Now, the Oga is saying it's money. I guess it's because people ain't held accountable in government that's why this man is coming here to say nonsense

The issue is. Did her excuse not happen. Every sports person have a peak period. If she loose this peak even Nigeria would drop her

Did I just read the AFN president boldly saying he sees nothing wrong in the reasons she gave which are denying and frustrating her in competing in 2 tournaments.
This man is wicked

If you were an athlete and you had trained for most of your life to compete at the Olympics, you qualified and worked hard to get there, then on two occasions you were prevented from competing just because of poor administration from your federation, then you would also consider changing countries.

What happened to Favour Ofili at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 is unforgivable.

Once is very bad, but twice? It's unforgivable.

Okowa should be ashamed to even show his face in public. I wonder why those giving him audience didn't ask him to explain how he managed to get her miss out on two tournaments?

ARISHEM:
Did I just read the AFN president boldly saying he sees nothing wrong in the reasons she gave which are denying and frustrating a her in competing in 2 tournaments.
This man is wicked

Who knows Okowa official twitter handle someone needs to ask him serious question. The man is unashamedly unashamed

The picture be like how big and she said very big crying

Okay, you want to destroy her career as young as she is?
I wish she made that choice earlier, she probably won't have missed the coming competition.
I'm tired of Naija too... The leaders in every sector in this country are totally shameless.

I h8 Naija and 90% of the people in it.

We share this country with some of the asinine human beings to ever walk the surface of this swirling orb. They refuse accountability, lie at the drop of a hat, defend mediocrity, steal and continue to perpetuate ineptitude all for personal gains. After all they did to this Ofili girl, this man had thw effrontery to accuse her. Crass and callous humans.

Your utterances are devoid of common sense..You can't kill someone's carrier n expect her to stupidly keep quiet..She acted accordingly by switching allegiance to Turkey...We all know how rotten n corrupt our systems are.. Good luck to her...

Okay, if it's for the Turkish money, then she will certainly be contributing to the diaspora remittances that the current calamitous Tinubu regime recently celebrated as a gain of its economic reforms.

If true, foolish statement from Okowa. Who is he playing to the gallery for?

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/ofili-dumped-nigeria-for-turkish-money-okowa

Is it her fault that 200 million Nigerians dumped PDP prosperity for APC extreme poverty, which is touching everyone in different ways and degrees

Even the dull government is rationalising increasing japa remittances due to hunger and hardship here.



https://punchng.com/600m-monthly-diaspora-remittances-proof-of-reforms-fg/

thisweekng:
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Chief Olawale Edun has said the last time Nigeria’s economy looked stable was about a decade ago.

He made this statement during his maiden press conference as Minister of Finance where he outlined President Bola Tinubu’s vision, agenda and strategy for the economy.

He said, “I think as we all know, we are not where we should be. The economy is barely growing above the rate of population growth.

“But it was not always so, and I think in trying to look at the way forward, if we now have a situation of slow growth, double-digit inflation, weak/depreciating exchange rate, as well as security concerns that are resulting in an economy that is not growing and not taking Nigerians out of poverty.

“If we think back to the last time when the economy was stable- when it was growing, when inflation was low, and the interest rate was affordable, that period was about a decade ago. Growth was about 6% in 2013 and 2014.”
Private sector to drive the economy

https://nairametrics.com/2023/09/01/the-last-time-nigerias-economy-was-stable-was-about-a-decade-ago-wale-edun/

princeade86:
What is okowa working for if I may ask please because I don't understand.

He want her to work like an elephant and eat like an ant. Still Okowa failed to tell us the rewards and motivation they give her after repeated negligence by Nigerian sports administrators at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It is both, and she has the right to. This is a statement of a lack of confidence in AFN. You bungled her ambition twice, and you expect her to still believe in your incompetence of an association. In addition, Nigeria has little or nothing for their elite athletes. Some of these countries he cited as example, have a conveyor belt that pushes out tens of world beaters inspite of losing some to other countries. But look at the state of athletics in the country

Very good decision, if it is possible, Nigerians will dump Nigeria for Tinubu and his supporters to kill themselves.


🥱🥱🥱

princeade86:
What is okowa working for if I may ask please because I don't understand.

You dey mind dem. Na so dem dey run their mouth like Wike.

If she truly did it for money then we must commend her. Na patriotism we go chop?

Abeg make she make money, so that someone will not be asking her what she did with the 'change' Nigerian government gave her.

Go get the money gurl!! We are behind you!!!

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa is not telling the truth. Ofili was maltreated and made to miss two very important competitions due to management incompetence. An athlete who is not competing is not happy. How many more competitions would she miss before she receives sense.

Though I know money is not every thing but Money is not something you joke with

She needed to plan her future. Trying to blame her is a big shame on Okowa.

.

I don't blame this Okowa of a person. Na Ofili wey wake up decide to run for this useless country in the first place, na she cause am give herself.