Following the criticism and outcry that greeted the visit of the Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello to watch the match between Chelsea and Arsenal in the English Premiership League, the governor has revealed why he was in London.
Chelsea hosted Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in which the match ended 2-1 in favour of Chelsea.
But the governor, writing on his Twitter handle, said his visit to Stamford Bridge to watch the match between Chelsea and Arsenal was at the instance of John Obi Mikel, a Chelsea player, who plans to have a football academy in Niger State.
He wrote: “I was at Stamford Bridge to watch the derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at the invitation of John Obi Mikel.”
According to him, Mikel had approached the Niger State Government to partner with him in the area of sports development, adding that it would be wrong to turn down an investor who is willing to invest his money in the state.
Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ibraheem Dooba, further explained that the Governor was in Europe during the period and his visit to Stamford Bridge was part of his itinerary since he was to meet other international development partners.
Dooba added that his boss was invited by Mikel as a Guest of Honour.
When asked if sports was a priority for the government, Dooba replied that sports development, when properly organized, empowers the youth and helps promote economic activities in the state, adding that the state will not focus only on football but on other sporting activities.
Today, I will be at Stamford Bridge to watch the derby between #CFC and #Arsenal at the invitation of John Obi Mikel pic.twitter.com/Dra18aRekS
— Abubakar Sani Bello (@abusbello) September 19, 2015
Mikel is very keen to collaborate with the Niger State Government towards sports development- including starting a football academy in Minna
— Abubakar Sani Bello (@abusbello) September 19, 2015