It was mild drama yesterday at the office of the Minister of Sports, National Stadium Abuja when former Cruiserweight Champion, Bash Ali paid him a visit to apologize over comments he made recently that he refused the minister bribe thereby stalling his big title fight.
Ali, who was accompanied by promoter and manager Tee Mac to a closed door meeting with the minister, had apologized to him for his comments but sources in the minister’s office informed Pilot Sports that the minister responded that he called a press briefing to first clear his name.
“I came to apologise to you because my crew told me that most of the things I said about you may have been a little too harsh and that it angered you,” Bash Ali was quoted as saying.
It was gathered, however, that the minister insisted that Ali expatiated on the bribery claims to which he kept mum.
“You said I asked you for bribe. When did I ask you for bribe?” Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi asked Ali.
Speaking to Pilot Sports after the meeting, Tee Mac said he was disappointed a peace was not brokered between the two as he had hoped they would put an end to the drama so that Ali’s big fight can take place.
“The Minister asked Bash Ali: ‘When did I ask you for money’ and the question was not answered so because of this, discussions broke down. I am really disappointed about all this because we still need the Sports Commission and the blessing of the Minister to make his title fight happen.
“It is proper that a big sports event like this be done under a conducive environment created by the Presidency and the Sports Commission. I am so disappointed that we could not make it happen but we shall keep you (the Press) informed on any other development,” Tee Mac said.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Special Assistant Media to the Sports Minster, Mr Julius Ogunro said the meeting was at the instance of the Bash Ali promoters and that the Minister was going out of his way to even listen to him because the Sports ministry on dealt with amateur sports of which Bash Ali was Professional.
“Bash Ali had a closed door meeting with the minister but could not answer the minister’s question on whether he requested bribe from him. All the minister wants is for him to answer that question which he didn’t.
Asked if the recent development means that minister did not forgive Bash Ali for his comments, Mr Ogunro was, however, coy, saying the minister only asked one question which Bash Ali could not answer.
“If you tell the whole world that I’m a thief and you come to my house to say you want peace, shouldn’t you go first to tell the whole world?” Ogunro asked rhetorically. Ali knows what he did and he should know how to correct it but as for his ambition we just cannot help him because he is a professional boxer and we only do amateur boxing,” he said.
It would be recalled that Bash Ali had called conference in which he accused the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi of deliberately stalling his Guinness Record fight because he had refused him a cut from the proceeds. Ali had also said that President Jonathan had since given his approval but that he would never give a dime to the minister before his fight.
