World Boxing Federation, WBF, cruiserweight champion, Nigerian Bash Ali, (OON), is once again calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene so that his ambition to become the oldest man to win world boxing title will come to reality.
The Edo State-born Pugilist said that he is making a clarion call to the President because there are efforts by some officials of National Sports Commission, NSC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to thwart his plan to stage the Guiness Book of World Record fight in Nigeria.
According to Ali in a pettition he wrote to Jonathan dated 6 May, "despite two Local Organising Committees, LOC set up the Federal Government on 9 November, 2006 and August, 2009, so far, both have failed because of corruptive tendency of some officials. Right now, the historic boxing event is in limbo.
"After being frustrated for three years at the NSC, because I will not work with the officials unless it is on a transparent note, on 30 July, 2009, I took my fight's proposal to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. I met several times with the then minister, Ufot Ekaette and the incumbent, Elder Godsday Orubebe."
Bash Ali alleged that instead of Orubebe helping out with the staging of the fight, despite the fact the championship costs had been included in the budget of the Ministry for 2010, the Minister decided to send to him defamatory text messages.
"I met with the Minister several times after the 5 January, 2010 meeting and each time, he told me that if I believe it is possible to do transparent business in Nigeria that I must be living in the air," said Ali.
"Sir, in the last one year, I have applauded you for the approved $200M for the entertainment industry, approved money for soccer players, compensation for several athletes for bringing honour to Nigeria and have been wondering why a historic fight that will bring honour, glory, unprecedented level of positive international publicity and money to Nigeria is left out in the cold?"
The aged boxer conrinued in his letter to Jonathan: "It is instructive to inform you that George Foreman (USA) at 45 years 215 days set the Guiness Book of World Record, GWR, in his country. Joe Bugner (Australia) at 48 years 110 days broke the GWR in his country. So it is only befitting that I shatter the record in my country, Nigeria."
Bash Ali, however, concluded in the petition that "my immediate prayer to you is to set up a presidential task force comprising private and public sector that will handle the hosting of this historic fight and report directly to you."
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