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The Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC), Mr Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Tuesday, demanded immediate apology from the State Football Association (AnSFA) for describing sporting events approved by governor Chukwuma Soludo as fake and illegal.
Onyedum, in a statement addressed to the Chairman, AnSFA, Mr Chikelue Iloenyosi
and copied to six different institutions, including SWAN, also countered the suspension of the State government staff, Chijioke Onyedika, handed down by the AnSFA.
AnSFA had in a letter signed by its Communication Director, Mr Myckie Chukwuebuka, announced five years ban on the immediate past Secretary of the board, Mr Chijioke Onyedika over alleged violation of Anambra FA status and engaging in anti-football activities capable of bringing the game to disrepute in the state.
"Mr Onyedika was twice invited by the disciplinary committee of the FA, twice he didn't turn up without notification. Relevant football institutions and law enforcement agencies have been copied and notified as the ban is with immediate effect," the statement claimed.
But Onyedum while responding to it, described the correspondence as misguided, asinine letter and affront , adding that AnSFA must withdraw it within 48 hours and tender an unreserved apology to the Commission and Governor Soludo on whose behalf Chijioke
Onyedika is acting.
"The apology must be published in two national dailies and online. The attention of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission has been drawn to a misguided and asinine letter from the Anambra State Football Association branding competition organised by the Commission as FAKE and ILLEGAL.
"The letter which was addressed to Chijioke Onyedika, a Staff of the Cornmission also
purportedly banned him from further participation in football activities and from accessing football arena anywhere in the state for five years with threats of arrest.
"The Commission views this as an affront to the authority of Anambra State Government which Onyedika represents. For the avoidance of doubt, Chijioke Onyedika is neither a member nor a representative of the government in the Anambra State Football Association Board but a senior staff of the Anambra State Government in the Sports Development Commission.
"He carries the seal of approval of the state government to act in any capacity assigned to him. Therefore, you do not have the powers to stop him from acting on behalf of the state government or have the capacity to stop him from entering any football facility within the state.
"This is a veiled and unwarranted attack on the Sports Commission which is vested with the powers to drive sports development at the grassroots and amateur levels as contained in the Commission's Establishment Law of 2018. The Commission takes exception to this over-reaching action from the Anambra State FA under your Chairmanship and warns that this action must not repeat itself in the future. We await your reaction to this letter as it will inform our further action," he concluded.