Protest rocks Ondo Sports Complex over appointment of Acting Sports Council GM

Activities at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure were brought to a halt on Tuesday as sports stakeholders staged a protest against the appointment of Mrs Evelyn Lebi as Acting General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council.

The protesters, made up of sports union officials, coaches and athletes, expressed concerns that the appointment would not translate into meaningful growth for sports in the state.

Speaking during the protest, Coach Fisayo Bello, Coordinating Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, said the state’s sports sector was already in a poor condition and required the leadership of a competent technocrat to restore it.

According to Bello, the council needed a leader with genuine passion and capacity to revive sports development, stressing that stakeholders had previously opposed Lebi’s appointment and were maintaining the same position.

“We need someone who can take sports in Ondo State back to its glory days, not someone who will move it backwards. Four years ago, we rejected this appointment, and we are rejecting it again,” he said.

Also speaking, Osifo Moses, Vice Chairman of AUPCTRE in Ondo State and a boxing coach, said the council required a credible and committed individual who could reposition the sector for progress.

The Chairman of the Ondo State Professional Coaches Association, Joshua Ogunbiyi, clarified that the protest was not directed at Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, whom he described as supportive of sports development, but rather at the selection of Lebi.

Ogunbiyi alleged that Lebi had previously served at the council and was associated with issues that created tension among staff, adding that stakeholders had consistently raised concerns about her suitability for the role.

“At this stage, sports in Ondo State is not progressing. We want a vibrant, competent general manager who can revive the sector. This is not the first time Lebi is contesting for this position, and each time, we have made our reservations known,” he said.

He maintained that while stakeholders respected the governor’s prerogative to appoint officials, they believed Lebi was not the right choice to lead the council.

The General Captain of Ondo State Athletes, Idowu Afun, appealed to the state government to appoint a capable and energetic individual to head the Sports Council in order to improve athletes’ welfare and performance.

Responding to the protest, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Henry Omoyofunmi, described the action as unnecessary and unfounded.

Omoyofunmi said Lebi was a qualified professional with over 15 years of experience at the Sports Council and currently served as a Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

He explained that her appointment followed the expiration of the tenure of the former general manager and was carried out through proper civil service procedures.

“The Head of Service deployed an accounting officer to the council, and I do not see any reason for the protest,” the commissioner said.

He further suggested that the protesters may be acting under external influence, insisting that Lebi’s appointment would not disrupt sporting activities but would instead contribute to repositioning sports development in the state.