The Governor Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has formed a five-man committee, to look into the issues bedeviling the state-owned football club, Lobi Stars.
The meeting which took place at the state house in Makurdi on Wednesday, August 23, had in attendance Godwin Uwua, a former Flying Eagles coach, Aondofa Akosu, a former BCC Lions player, Philip Nongo, former Super Eagles midfielder, Moses Kpakor, the current Lobi Stars captain, Daniel Atsaka.
During the meeting, the Benue state governor announced that the five-person committee would comprise the state house of assembly speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh (chairman of the committee), Uwua, Akosu, the state’s director of sports, and the permanent secretary of the ministry of sports.
The governor had to set up the committee after Benue football stakeholders bemoaned the declining fortunes of Lobi Stars and demanded an urgent change.
The stakeholders also urged the governor to set up a board to oversee the club’s efficient management and operations.
Governor Alia stated that he had been briefed on the club and that the situation there needed to be resolved immediately.
“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. You 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”, the governor said.
“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 is 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 4 p.m., 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 on Monday.”
