By Kamsi Anayo
Ahead of Thursday’s Nigeria Olympic Committee’s election scheduled to hold in Jalingo, Taraba state, the incumbent President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, has cleared the air on why Nigeria did not currently have voting rights at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Gumel debunked insinuations in some quarters that he had been the one blocking Nigeria from having a voting right at the IOC.
“Well, let me make a proper clarification on why Nigeria has no voting rights in IOC. This is because IOC selects its members from different countries and those selected are members of the IOC in their own countries.
“Like me, I was elected in 2009, and automatically I became an IOC member in Nigeria. Of the whole of 54 countries in Africa, there are only 15 IOC members.
“IOC is not a United Nations or the Africa Union, that every country has a seat. Even when you go for IOC sessions, it is your name that is there not the name of your country.
”So to say that I am denying Nigeria from getting a vote, is untrue. Nigeria has no voting right in IOC. The good thing is for me as a representative of IOC in Nigeria to make sure that I contribute to make Nigeria get a lot of things from IOC. That is the most important thing.
“It does not mean that when you are president of NOC (in your own country) automatically you are an IOC member, no.
”From what I said earlier, in Africa, there are many NOC (National Olympic Committee) presidents that are not IOC members.
”There is nowhere that I in person blocked Nigeria. Many people are just ignorant and lack understanding about what obtains in the international sporting arena.”
He debunked reports in some quarters that Nigeria does not have voting right because he (Engr Gumel) is above 70 years.
Gumel listed factors the IOC considers before a country is given the voting right.
“There are indices that IOC considers. First and foremost: they look at participation in the Olympic Games, the achievements, and the kind of person.
“The person they may choose may not necessarily be the president of a NOC.
“It could be somebody who is on the board and what he has achieved because they have the record of people they consider. So they select people from different countries and sometimes it is done based on recommendations.
“They may look at the recommendations and consider if such a person is good for them. In IOC some members are not necessarily in sports. Some people are bankers, writers, and journalists who are IOC members – not necessarily that they must be sportsmen and women.
“Therefore, I must protect Nigeria and her interest. That is what I am doing. Yes, I have indeed clocked 70 years, but that does not mean that I am not active and doing what I am supposed to do to help Nigeria.
“I am not blocking anybody from becoming an IOC member. I did not block the voting right of Nigeria because there is nothing like that in the IOC.
”Countries do not go there and vote, there are members, and these members are selected from different countries. IOC membership is a hundred plus in the whole world.
”The only thing that remains now is for them to wait till another time of election and IOC may pick an additional person from Nigeria.
“In my case, I am an honorary member of the IOC for life right now, by virtue of my age. It is not about me alone, anywhere in the world, once you clock that 70 years, you automatically join.
”If you reach 70 years but you have not served in IOC for 10 years, you are not an honorary member. But once you are 10 years and above, you become an honourary member for life. Everything IOC is doing, they will invite you, including sessions and games,” he said.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee election will hold on Thursday, December 15, 2022, in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Gumel has been cleared by the electoral committee to contest for re-election for four years in office.
In his previous years as the NOC boss he made serious contributions to sports development in Nigerian.
