Known for his litany of excuses, and his penchant to blame others for the series of embarrassment brought to Nigeria because of lack competence in his assigned portfolio; Senator John Owan Enoh’s tenure as Minister of Sports Development serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of excuses and blame-shifting in leadership, as his
tendency to deflect blame and avoid accountability has become evident in his series of television appearances.
This soap opera, a sorry tale of a man who seems more interested in preserving his own image than in doing the hard work required to succeed in his role. This narrative not only undermines his credibility but also highlights a troubling trend in leadership, where failure is met with denial rather than introspection. His lack of accountability and refusal to acknowledge shortcomings have created a toxic environment within the sports management ecosystem. The implications of Enoh’s tenure extend beyond the sports sector, reflecting a broader issue with leadership in Nigeria
His leadership coincided with Nigeria’s most disappointing performance in recent Olympic and Paralympic Games, a situation made all the more perplexing given the substantial budget of 12 billion Naira allocated for these events. Instead of taking responsibility for the failures that unfolded, Enoh has chosen to portray himself as a victim, despite the overwhelming evidence that points to his lack of competence and accountability. The Paris 2024 games will forever be etched in the memories of Nigerians as a testament to Enoh’s incompetence. The country’s athletes, who had been promised a successful outing by the minister, returned home without any paltry haul of medals, a far cry from the lofty expectations that had been set.
Senator John Owan Enoh’s assertion that he has achieved more in one year than his predecessors, Solomon Selcap Dalung Esq and Sunday Akin Dare, combined over eight years, is a bold claim that requires scrutiny. However, a closer examination of the records reveals that Enoh’s hypothesis is flawed and lacks substance.
Dalung, who served as Sports Minister from 2015 to 2019, achieved remarkable success during his one year in office. One notable highlight was Nigeria’s impressive performance at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where the country’s athletes won a total of twelve medals, including eight gold, two silver, and two bronze. This achievement has yet to be matched by Enoh, despite his boasts of superior competence under a year in office.
On the other hand, Sunday Akin Dare, who succeeded Dalung as Sports Minister, also made significant contributions to Nigerian sports during his tenure from 2019 to 2023. One of his notable initiatives was the “Adopt An Athlete” Initiative, was done under three months, the initiative provided critical support to Nigerian athletes preparing for major international. Regardless the impact of COVID 19, which if it had happened under Enoh, would have been a strong point to argue about his failure.
In contrast, Senator Enoh’s tenure has been marked by controversy, mismanagement, and a lack of tangible achievements. The Bruno Labbadia which he had forced the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, to appoint, turned out to be another embarrassing story. The German coach upon his announcement, dumped the NFF. Furthermore, the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics disaster, with Nigerian athletes failing to win a single medal in many events.
Enoh’s claims of superiority over his predecessors are therefore unfounded and lack credibility. His inability to match the achievements of Dalung and Dare, despite having more resources at his disposal, raises serious questions about his competence and leadership abilities.
In conclusion, Senator Enoh’s hypothesis that he has achieved more in one year than his predecessors combined over eight years is a myth that has been debunked by the facts. He should tell us about the approval by the Federal Executive Council secured by his predicessor to build a High Performance Center; he should be telling us the developmental plans for sports, rather than his numerous television appearances that showcases his incompetence.
Sylvanus Ofekun can be reached via [email protected]