In a country where mediocrity often dons a laurel wreath and parades the corridors of power, it is no surprise that when discipline finally takes a seat at the table, the knives come out. This is the curious case of Bola Mogaji, the outgoing Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission—a man whose only crime appears to be doing his job too well.
For a state long marooned in the swamp of sporting underachievement, Mogaji’s tenure brought something radical: progress. Tangible, undeniable, and concrete development. But alas, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is considered a tyrant.
A Record Etched in Result.
Let’s speak the truth before someone buries it under a mountain of WhatsApp broadcasts and faceless “stakeholder” petitions. Under Bola Mogaji’s watch, Kwara United lifted the FA Cup, a feat that eluded them for years. He renovated the long-forgotten indoor sports hall, a venue that had become more of a relic than a resource. Not stopping there, the state now boasts the largest and most modern squash court in Nigeria—yes, you read that correctly, in Nigeria. Table tennis courts? Constructed. Swimming pool, volleyball and handball courts? Renovated. The stadium road network? Resurrected from the dead.
And the athletes? Kwara didn’t just participate in the last two National Sports Festivals; they rose. Medal counts increased, personal bests were shattered, and for the first time in a long while, Kwara didn’t just show up—they competed. Squash, badminton, table tennis—all disciplines where athletes not only made international trips but came back with trophies. Mogaji personally facilitated sponsorships that took these athletes beyond our borders. Imagine the audacity of a chairman who actually cares about athletes’ careers!
But He Is “Difficult”, You Say?
Difficult to whom? To indolent staff who think work is optional? Or to those who have confused government offices for private estates? A disciplinarian in a system drowning in compromise is bound to be called names.
His opponents won’t tell you how some staff transferred from the defunct Ministry of Sports were allergic to accountability. Or how the head of coaching—whose job was to lead by example—committed a serious breach and was rightly suspended. But in today’s twisted narrative, such discipline is now “nepotism.”
He is not diplomatic with incompetence. And that, in Kwara’s peculiar ecosystem of “e go better like that,” is his greatest sin.
The Kwara United Saga: A Study in Misplaced Blame
Now let’s talk football—where fiction often dribbles faster than facts. Kwara United has been on steady government subvention, yet they remain perennially broke, borrowing funds like a gambler on credit. Over ₦200 million in debts were cleared under Mogaji’s tenure. But who incurred the debt? Nobody is asking. They just shout, “Bola is the problem!”
He insisted the club management be transparent. He demanded prudence. For this, he became the enemy of those who prefer silence to audits. Behind the scenes, he loaned the team money from his own pocket to save them from embarrassment. But of course, the public won’t hear of that—good deeds are poor material for scandal blogs.
The FA Fable: When Autonomy Becomes Anarchy
One would think the Kwara FA was fighting for democracy, not trying to hijack public facilities. The truth is, they wanted control of the mainbowl stadium, a government property. They cite FIFA statutes about “autonomy,” forgetting that the very grass they kick the ball on belongs to the government. Even the almighty NFF reports to the National Sports Commission, but Kwara FA wants to secede from logic.
Mogaji stood his ground. And they lit their torches and cried foul. No one mentions that the Kwara State legislation clearly empowers the Sports Commission to oversee all sports activities. But facts are inconvenient in a smear campaign.
An Achiever, Not a Politician
It is easier to criticise a man in the arena than to match his feats. Mogaji is a sportsman, not a politician. A squash champion, sports scholar, and administrator. His type is rare—someone who studied sports, played sports, and now develops sports. That’s a hat-trick most chairmen can’t dream of.
Even in Kwara United’s most recent upturn in form, Mogaji was spotted mobilising support, traveling with the team, cheering them on. Yet, their management continues to throw him under the bus. Maybe the bus was borrowed too?
Final Whistle: Beware of the Campaign of Calumny
The call to deny Bola Mogaji a second term is not rooted in reason, but in resentment. He has exposed the rot, insisted on accountability, and dared to demand results. These are not crimes—they are virtues.
But in today’s warped landscape, you either dance with the mediocres or prepare for battle. Bola Mogaji refused to dance. Now, they’re playing drums of deceit against him.
The public must not be swayed by noise over numbers. Kwara sports, by every measurable standard, is better today than it was four years ago.
That is the legacy of Bola Mogaji. If that is a sin, then may we have more sinners like him.
Ibrahim writes from Ilorin
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