By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Nigerian former World Boxing Champion (WBC ), Bashiru Lawrence Ali, aka Bash Ali has raised the alarm of alleging that the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Hon. John Enoh has demanded for 1 million US Dollar from him, to support his WBC fight
Ali who is organising world boxing championship fight to be host in Nigeria, raised the alarm in an open letter he personally signed and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dated 24th, April 2024.
Ali in the statement alleged that members of his Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee (LOC), as constituted and inaugurated by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), has stalled, for saying no to Corruption.
The latter read in parts ‘Open letter, Bola Tinubu (GCFR), President of Nigeria, presidential Villa, Abuja, Corrupt Minister John Enoh’s Demand For Another US$1M”.
“My President Sir, Sport is one of the biggest industries in the world and if well organized in Nigeria devoid of corruption, will favorably compete with the Nigerian national petroleum company in generating big time money for the government and help to create employment for the people.
“But unfortunately, minister Enoh and his co-horts are only interested in making money for themselves and not for our country, Nigeria. My President Sir,I am the most patriotic Nigerian in the world.
“Every Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight has held in the United States of America (USA) so mine would be the first outside, and the most lucrative in the history of Pay Per view television revenue.
“Instead of hosting it in the USA or in any other country, I insisted it must be in my country, Nigeria.
“I left my comfort zone in Oakland, California, USA,17 years ago as one of the richest boxers in the world and today, my country, Nigeria has turned me to the poorest simply because I say NO to CORRUPTION and despite being financially broke I still turned down several JUICY offers including a 75M Euros to fight outside of Nigeria.
“I love my country and I will
never give up on Nigeria especially now that you have brought the renewed HOPE AGENDA.
“My president sir, corrupt Minister of Sport, John Enoh has turned your “Renewed hope agenda to renewed hopelessness agenda by demanding from me another US$1M USD before he calls fora meeting with the members of the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee (LOC) as constituted and inaugurated by
the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).
“And because I say no to his demands, he started to frustrate and give me his Renewed Hopelessness Agenda.
“My President Sir, I did not leave my comfort zone in the USA to come to fight my country, Nigeria in a court battle. I came to Nigeria to host the biggest boxing show in the world and SHOCK the world by rewriting boxing history and bring honor, glory and financial growth to Nigeria, so help me make this laudable dream a reality, please”, he stated.
He therefore outlined 4 prayers to Mr. President Tinubu, saying that presidency should takes over the hosting of this historic fight; Settle the suit against the FGN out of court; Permit him the luxury of once again presenting to president, the historic fight souvenirs, and lastly that his allegations against Minister Enoh be properly investigated and that appropriate action be taken against him.
“My President Sir, let me conclude by making you laugh. “I made a mistake by making some Tee. Shirts with the minister’s image and mine with the inscription; “Join the minister and I to knockout corruption in Sports’, he stated.
According to him, on getting it (Tee-shirt), “Minister Enoh said ‘’NA TEE SHIRT WE GO CHOP?’’. Welcome to the Renewed Hopelessness by Minister Enoh…lol.”, it retorted.
Bash Ali also sent copies of the letter of his petition on corruption allegation against minister Enoh, to Nigeria Senate, House of reps, and to SA to President on Policy & Coordination respectively for their information and anticipated action.
He also stated that since 2023, Enoh had developed a well organized form of delay by sitting on his matter and pretending to be working by purposely send his file to wrong department and telling him to be patient
“President Sir, for 8 months I am told to be patients, but if by today I pay minister Enoh a US1m, the meeting of my members of LOC will be possible and my file will be send to the proper place. We cannot continue drive backward, our great country Nigeria, We cannot, he repeated.
He also stated that “The letter and text messages exchange between minister Enoh and I are available on demand. Reading it will make you sad, and sad.
“My president most of members of your cabinet know about these but have refused to intervene or bring the matter to your attention and all my acknowledgement letter to you and, your first lady Oluremi Tinubu, as the presidency have been blocked all because I “Say No to Corruption”, he lamented.
According to him, FGN had between 2006 and 2019 inaugurated several LOC for the actualization of the project with representation from NASS, and private sector, adding that all they needed from the sports ministry is midwives and even make some money in the process but lamented that all Enoh want is personal gains.
All efforts to get Minister Enoh further clarification was fruitless due to bottleneck.
