By Terfa Alaghga
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has constituted a five-member committee headed by Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, BSHA, Hon Hyacinth Dajo, to look into the allegations levelled against the management of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, and report their findings and position to him for a final pronouncement that he would make on the club.
Governor Alia made the decision recently, when he had an interactive session with the management, staff, players and stakeholders, to know the challenges and way forward for the club, held at the Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi.
He said, “I want to charge you members of the committee, to go and look into the issues raised against the management of Lobi, take position and report your findings to me so that I will make a pronouncement on the club”.
Earlier, the captain of Lobi Stars FC, Daniel Atsaka, who spoke on behalf of the players, said the main challenge they were facing was lack of funds to the club. He disclosed that, ” it is the lack of funds that was affecting Lobi Stars FC thereby, leading to the non payment of salaries and bonuses of players and staff for up to four to five months”.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Benue State for their commitment to the club and was doing everything possible to see that they competed favourably among teams in Nigeria and beyond. He explained that, “the government has tried its best in managing Lobi but the only problem is lack of funds to the club and it is the reason salaries and bonuses are not paid for four to five months now”.
The team captain acknowledged that, “by the time Dominic Iorfa returned to Lobi on a rescue mission, the club was almost collapsing but he did everything possible to bring it back to its feet and that is why the club is where it is today. So, Iorfa has done his best and we need to commend him”.
Other members of the committee included, the Director of Sports BSSC, Philip Nongo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Coach Godwin Uwua and Michael Akosu.
