Sports Commission,  Contractor Trade Words Over Collapsed Esuene Stadium

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By; MUSA KUTAMA, Calabar
Cross River Sports Commission and the contractor handling the Indoor Sports Hall at U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, have disagreed over the collapse of the N2 billion structure on Good Friday.
New Nigerian Sports  reports that while the commission is attributing the collapse of the structure to shoddy job, the contractor alleges sabotage and calls for an inquiry into the collapse.
The multi-purpose Indoor Sports Hall under construction to host the thrice-postponed 19th National Sports Festival (NSF) caved in Friday at the U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium.
No lives were lost at the facility which contract was awarded at the cost of $14 million (about N2.2 billion) for the festival.
The NSF, organised by the Federal Ministry of Sports for athletes from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was originally scheduled to be hosted in 2014 but suffered several postponements due to funding.
The NSF was conceived in 1973 to serve as a re-uniting force for the country after a devastating Nigeria-Biafra civil war.
The Chairman of Cross River State Sports Commission, Orok Duke, said it was unfortunate that the contractor, had not completed the job after he had been fully paid his $14 million upfront.
Duke, who also told sports writers that the contractor, Ozolua Giwa-Amu, allegedly used substandard materials for the job, assured that the development would not discourage the state’s determination to host the NSF.
 
He said: “What I have discovered is that the contractor carrying out the project have used substandard materials.
“It has been here barely three years. What we should note is that this structure was erected before the advent of current governor, Prof. Ben Ayade’s government.
“And in keeping with our policy of trying to reposition sports, I had asked for permission to go after the contractor, but my principal, the governor said he does not want to be distracted.
“We should cut our losses and move on because he was still focusing on hosting the National Sports Festival. So he felt actually that probes and all that would distract him.
“So, we decided to move on and as you are aware, we have gone to other sports and we are trying to work out ways to do without this structure by finding other alternative venues.
“The most frightening thing is the discovery of these substandard materials which means this is a tragedy waiting to happen.
“If it hadn’t happened now, maybe it could have happened when we have a full house with a lot of athletes.
 
“Being a Good Friday, I can say that God just intervened because a lot of people could have been killed; especially now lots of children come to the stadium.
“This structure is supposed to be here for over 200 years.’’
He noted that this had not diminished state’s chances of hosting the festival. “We have gone ahead to consider alternative venues for the festival.
“We are considering the emporiums in Tinapa. So this is totally out of it.’’
But Giwa-Amu told NAN on Sunday that he suspected sabotage from those who alleged that substandard materials were used for the job by his company.
“Note that I do not work for Orok Duke, a tout, nor the Sports commission. I have a contract with the Cross river state Government, through its Ministry of special projects.
“When they officially inform you that the collapse at the stadium project was our fault, then you may blame us.
“Until such a time, know that you will held responsible for any malicious falsehoods that you may cause to be published.
“Abundant evidence exist as to the culprit who removed support beams that caused the `collapse’, we see this as wilful destruction of state property by the tout, Orok Duke.
“Perhaps the question to be asked is, why is it that it is when Orok Duke chased away security from our site and brought his security that there was a collapse?
“There is no `fire on the mountain’ Cross Riverians are merely finding out how much of a lout Orok Duke is. On the above you may quote me,’’ he said.
He also called for a public investigation into the collapse and threatened legal action over defamation of character through publication of falsehood regarding the building’s collapse.
Giwa-Amu said: “They should immediately cause a public investigation into fictitious claims made by this lout.
“Unlike the State Government and its loutish agent, Orok Duke, we work within the law and will handle any malicious defamation of character within the law against all involved in the publishing or broadcasting falsehood. This is my statement,” he said.
 

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