Bash Ali Writes Buhari, Lists Gains Of World Title Fight To Nigeria
Posted on July 12, 2019
Non activities around the organisation of the Guinness World Record Boxing Championship scheduled to hold in Nigeria nearly two months after the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) has become a source of worry to stakeholders of the fight.
This has led the man in the centre of attraction, Bashiru Lawrence Ali, OON, the World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion, to take it upon himself to write the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for him to save the country from losing the hosting right of the fight to another country.
The world boxing sanctioning body of the epic bout, International Boxing Union (IBU), had written that the organisers of the fight must pay the Sanction Fee of $3 million or the fight will be taken to another country.
P.’M. EXPRESS understands that Germany is reportedly on standby.
Though, a new venue in another country will be good for Bash Ali with mouth watering juicy offers on the table for him; 50 million Euros and 30% of PPVTV Revenue, the African boxing Ambassador, Bash Ali said he won’t because of money dump his fatherland, Nigeria, instead he would love to see President Buhari using his power to make sure the fight is held in Nigeria and all the benefits inherent in the hosting come directly to the Nigeria.
“This is a patriotic and selfless action a true Nigerian must do at this crossroad,” he told P.M. EXPRESS in an interview.
Bash Ali has till 16 August, 2019 to decide on the offers.
To this end, Bash Ali had written a passionate letter to the President pleading that Buhari should takeover the organisation of the fight by setting up a Special Task Force that will be reporting directly to him.
Bash recalled in the letter to Buhari how the LOC of the fight was inaugurated on 7 January, 2014 by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Sports to organize in Nigeria in a transparent manner the first Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight on the soil of Africa. And despite two inaugurations and several approvals, nothing positive has happened because of corruption and bad administration.
Bash Ali wrote: “Sir, despite your two approvals vide memo SH/COS/22/A/627 of July 21, 2015 and again vide memo HMY&SD/001/2016/153 of July 15, 2016, and despite several letters written for and on behalf of Your Excellency to the World Boxing Unions, nothing positive happened because of corruption and bad administration and despite several juicy offers to fight outside of Nigeria, I never gave up on Nigeria and after almost four years of wasting my life, on May 21, 2019 to be exact, another LOC was inaugurated by the then Minister Solomon Dalung with himself as the Chairman, Chief Kenny Martins as the Co-Chairman, the Director of Sports, Ademola Are as the Secretary and the office of the Chief of Staff to Mr President as a member.
Bash Ali (right) presenting some souvenirs to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when they met in Lagos recently
“Sir, it is over 45 days that the LOC was inaugurated and the FG gave us 90 days to complete our assignment. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth & Sports says he has no power to continue with this laudable historic Project until a Minister is appointed so we are at a standstill pending when a Minister is appointed.”
Bash Ali, who holds a traditional title of Ajagungbade of Ibadanland, further highlighted in his letter to Buhari benefits that would come to Nigeria if the country host the fight, he said: “Sir, this historic event will attract to Nigeria over 132 countries, it will be watched live across the world on Pay Per View Television (PPVTV) by an estimated audience of between 15 million -20 million people at the rate of USD100 per viewer for a USD1.5 billion minimum PPVTV Revenue excluding adverts, sponsorship, sales of souvenirs etc which could hit USD2 billion if not over for a fight that will only cost USD173 million.”
The Edo State-born pugilist who started his career as a wrestler in the United States told the President that a Financing Team is on the LOC already. They are NEXIM Bank, Bank of Industry and National Lottery Trust Fund.
Some of the benefits of the hosting to Nigeria according to him include but not limited to five sports academies with Olympic Size Swimming Pool which will be built across Nigeria at the rate of USD20 million each and a USD20 million Sports Equipment Manufacturing Factory.
“These establishments would help to create an avenue for the Nigerian Athlete to exhibit their talents, get education and earn money in the process.
“These establishments would help to create employment for Nigerians and help to cut down on crimes.
“Nigeria would be seen as a tourism destination, and more importantly, Nigeria would earn worldwide an unprecedented level of positive publicity.
“Apart from all these benefits, the FG would earn a sizeable income from Tax,” Bash Ali said.
Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung (middle) being presented with a T-shirt souvenir during the inauguration of the LOC of the fight on 21 May, 2019
He, however, told the President emphatically in the letter that there is fire on the mountain for him if he fail to accept the offers from Germany latest by 16 August. “If I do not accept the offer, I will have to wait until the end of year 2020 before I get another opportunity and at my age, time is not my friend,” the 63 years old boxer said in the letter dated 8 July, 2019.
“Your Excellency Sir, I have waited for almost 13 years in order to fight in my country to bring honour, glory and clean money but corruption and bad administration have been my opponents. Several Countries including the United States of America through the New York Times of Wednesday, December 17, 2008 wrote that “1 am campaigning in vain in Nigeria”, and several years later, the article still reigns true.
“Your Excellency Sir, the only offence I have committed in Nigeria is having the guts to say no to corruption and bad administration.”
The ageless boxer concluded his letter to the President by asking for an urgent action and Presidential Order for Buhari “to take charge of this historic event by setting up a Special Task Force that will be headed by your Chief of Staff since he is a member of the LOC and to be reporting directly to you the progress of the LOC as instructed by the FG.
“The deadline of 15 August, 2019 for Nigeria to pay the USD3 million Approval Fee for the country to secure the hosting right for this historic event before any other fee is paid is drawing very close. I want to fight to shock the world and rewrite boxing history in my country, so help me before it is too late please. My dear President, help me, please.”
World champion Bash Ali on sick bed when he was brutalised by officials during one of the unrelenting and traumatised moments to ensure that the fight is held in Nigeria
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