Minimah’s Third Coming: What’s In The Offing For Nigeria Boxing

IKPO IGBINOBA

Of all those who have reigned as Presidents of the Nigeria Boxing Federation since the late Group Captain Brai Ayonote, General Kenneth Minimah, former Chief of Army Staff without dispute stands out.

The charismatic Airforce officer, Ayonote was the Boxing Federation chief for just four years(1988-1992).

But that brief period marked a watershed in Nigeria’s boxing history.

From the lower rungs of the ladder in global ranking in 1988 when he took over from Col Whyte Ukor, Ayonote took Nigeria Boxing to number seven spot in the world. 

The country’s boxing team got two silver medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Unfortunately, the fairy tale odyssey of Nigeria boxing ended in November 1992, when Ayonote died while on national duty to China.

Before his death, Ayonote had launched a massive infrastructural project to fit into his vision of having Nigeria as one of the hubs of world boxing.

He had actually secured the status of AIBA Boxing Centre of Excellence for the country before his death.

He had reclaimed a swamp, started a boxing complex which was to house the AIBA(Zone 3) secretariat, secretariat for the Nigeria Boxing Federation, a hostel for the boxers and the boxing Gymnasium. 

At his death, some of the projects within the complex had been completed while others were in various stages of completion.

Then the string of successors, from David Johnson, Frank Okonta, Rotimi George Taylor etc.

None of them, including a sitting governor, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State made any significant impact in boxing.

The fortunes of boxing was on a steady decline. As for the boxing complex, they all abandoned the project.

When Minimah came after the crisis ridden tenure of George-Taylor, he was determined to relaunch the Ayonote dream.

It is to the General’s credit, that a befitting edifice today stands within the complex that was abandoned for almost twenty years by different Presidents.

Beyond the boxing complex, Minimah  also single-handedly financed board meetings, championships, and assisted boxers in need. 

Unfortunately, in the run-up to the 2021 federation elections, Minimah’s contributions to the development of boxing didn’t stop an  attempt to remove him from office.

His sin according to those who were determined to unseat him was that he was responsible for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

This is an allegation Minimah’s loyalists vehemently oppose. One of the loyalists who did not want his name in print said 

“The record must be put straight. Those who were responsible for Nigeria missing out of the Tokyo Olympics were those who opted to attend a workshop in Cameroon with over ten million naira instead of an Olympic qualifier in Senegal”.

He explained further “For the benefit of those who don’t know, Minimah was the President of the federation but he allowed his Vice President rtd Gen. Joseph Ayeni run the show.

“You can’t blame the general for allowing his vice to call the shots. He trusted his vice for two reasons; first they are from the same military constituency and secondly the vice had been in the boxing federation for three decades.

The boxing federation election was viciously fought with the two generals putting aside all the niceties of esprit de corps and going for each other’s jugular.

Minimah prevailed at the end of the contest.

What’s in the offing for boxing in Minimah’s third coming? His loyalist said Minimah will not make the mistake of the past of putting so much trust in anybody.

He has learnt his lesson and in a very bitter way, he said.

The loyalist promised that the general was determined to restore the lost glory of Nigeria boxing.

He said with enthusiasm “Gen.Minimah is determined to take Nigeria boxing back to its Olympic height. 

“He has the passion and capacity to achieve his laudable dream.

“In the next few weeks, Nigeria boxing and boxers will begin to enjoy the return of General Minimah”.

The boxing community is full of great expectations. Will Minimah deliver?

Ikpo Igbinoba was spokesman for the Brai Ayonote led board