You Lied, Sports Minister Faults Samson Siasia on ‘No Support ‘ Claims
Claims by Samson Siasia, the embattled former Super Eagles coach, that the government did not assist him in his bid to appeal his FIFA ban, has been debunked by the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare.
The Minister insisted that he did not only raised money for Siasia but also brought his plight to the attention of individuals and organizations to intervene on his matter.
This, he said he did, since there is no budgetary provisions for such incidents.
A statement from the Minister’s Media Office received by THECONSCIENCEng late Tuesday reads:
“Contrary to insinuations by embattled former Super Eagles’ Coach, Samson Siasia that he was abandoned following his ban by FIFA for alleged match-fixing, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and its Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare raised money for him and brought his plight to the attention of individuals and organizations to intervene in his matter.
“The Ministry, through the Minister, was able to raise money that Siasia personally collected while he was also connected to persons and entities that raised money to assist him in appealing his case at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
“In response to concerted appeal launched by the Minister, Governors of Lagos, Edo, and Delta states made available money that were handed over to Siasia at different times while a couple of individuals, at the instance of the Minister, also raised money that were handed to him in cash.
“The Minister stayed on top of the case by pulling all strings to assist Siasia. In addition to the governors of Edo, Delta and Lagos, he made an appeal to the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
“In another instance, the Minister took Siasia on a visit to the then Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson to appeal for support for him.
“Siasia’s claim that government did nothing to assist him is untrue, deceitful, and misleading.
“While there is no budgetary provisions for such incidents, the Ministry and the Office of the Minister gave Samson Siasia all the support that led to the mitigation of his life ban from football related activities.” the statement concluded.
