Former military administrator of Lagos state Olagunsoye Oyinlola has denied claims that he promised Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, a house gift.
According to the Cable, Oyinlola made this known in a statement released on Friday.
Ajunwa became Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medalist and the first black African woman to win a gold medal in a field event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Her jump of 7.12m secured Nigeria’s first ever gold medal at the Olympics.
However, there were media reports that Oyinlola had promised her a house for winning the gold medal.
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The reports circulated the internet on Thursday after Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, handed over a three-bedroom apartment to Ajunwa, now an assistant commissioner of police in “fulfillment of Oyinlola’s promise to the athletes.”
But the former governor of Osun state said what he promised Ajunwa and the other Olympic medalists in 1996 were plots of land.
“I hosted the Nigerian contingent to the 1996 Olympic games at the National Stadium, Lagos on Saturday August 10, 1996. At the event, I announced the donation, by the Lagos State Government, of one plot of land in Lekki to each of Chioma Ajunwa, Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali, Duncan Dokiwan, Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara and 18 members of the Under-23 soccer team,” the statement read.
“I announced the gifts publicly and it was carried by all newspapers, radio and television stations in the country. Indeed, it was the front page lead report of The Guardian of August 11, 1996. I made it clear that the 24 plots of land were complete with all the titles. Did Ajunwa get that plot of land? How about the others?
“For two members of the gold-winning Under-23 football team who hailed from Lagos State, Joseph Dosu and Teslim Fatusi, I announced that the state would build for each of them a 2-Bedroom apartment in any place of their choice.
“I also announced a gift of N2 million for sharing by the officials and all other members of the contingent who could not win a medal.”
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COMMENTS
Did Oyinlola fulfil even that promise of a land? If he didn’t, it was right that the Lagos State government gave a 3-bedroom flat. People who fail to keep their promises should come up with excuses or reasons when others do so. Just be glad someone else covered your scrums.
Exactly,like PDP who did nothing always wanting to water down others achievement, with there usual phrase we started it. God bless Lagos State.