Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday constituted a five-man committee headed by the Speaker of the state’s House Assembly, Hyacinth Dajoh, to examine the challenges facing the state-owned club Lobi Stars.
The other members of the committee are a former BCC Lions player, Aondofa Akosu; the state’s Director of Sports, Philip Nongo; former Flying Eagles coach, Godwin Uwua and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports.
They are expected to submit their report on Sunday.
This is coming as stakeholders in Benue football decried the declining fortunes of Lobi and demanded immediate change.
The stakeholders also called for the constitution of a board to oversee the effective and efficient operations and management of the club.
Governor Alia, who said he had received brief about the club and its vice chairman Dominic Iorfa, noted that situation in the club needed to be urgently fixed.
“What is on my desk is what drove me to call this assembly. Lobi is broken and I’m here to fix it. You are part of the pride of the state and I want that pride to stay. Your are the legacy and jewel of the state and must be held high and am willing to lend my hand and hold you very high.
“Outside of the brief we took and outside of what is spoken about the team on the streets, which is not good to hear and of the government of the state, we need to do this interface. Lobi has recorded a lot of wins, but along the line, remember if the house has crumbled and unstable, you don’t expect good outings. And I understand this is there. I heard someone say that we sold our best goal scorer.
“By Monday August 28 at 4pm, we will assemble here again to round off this conversation. But in the interim, I’m setting up a five-man committee to comb the anxieties I have for Lobi and bring the report to me and on Monday.”
Among those who spoke at the meeting were Uwua, former Super Eagles midfielder Moses Kpakor and club captain Daniel Atsaka
Both Uwua and Kpakor lamented the dwindling fortunes of Lobi and the need to save the situation.
Atsaka regretted the non-payment of five months salary arrears, saying, “This has deprived the team of good recruits even as the ones scouted ran away from camp. The club was in a precarious situation at the end of 2021/2022 season, when stakeholders brought Dominic Iorfa to rescue the club from delegation. It was in the middle of the season, then we had 19 goals, 19 points and in 19th position on the table. We were doomed for relegation, but miraculously he did the job and we survived relegation that season.”
“At the end of last season, we were able to finish amongst the top three in the league and featured in the top six. The club has been enjoyjng sponsorship of the government before your arrival.
“Salaries were being paid up to date except for few months. There is a case in March 2022 that we were owed salaries. We have outstanding match bonuses for two seasons, that is 24-match bonuses.
“We are trusting that with your good governance, this wiill be put to an end and we will smile again.”
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