Emmanuel- Ngerem absolves AFN of negligence

Emmanuel,31,died in an hospital on January 16 as a result of injuries sustained in a road mishap the previous day while travelling to Kaduna from Lagos.

But his mother Mrs. Felicia Alidu,claimed during the week in an interview with sportswriters in Lagos, that no assistance has come from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria[AFN] to the family of  Emmanuel since the late sprinter was laid to rest.

"The only thing they did was when the Assistant Secretary of  the AFN visited the family and gave us a little money before the burial,"said Mrs.Alidu,adding that what the family want is for Nigeria to do something im memory of her son.

"What I can remember the AFN sent was the condolence register they opened in honour of Sunday.This is somebody who took to athletics since he left secondary school, he wanted to do something for Nigeria.I only want him to be remembered," she stated.

AFN President Dan Ngerem,however,described Mrs.Alidu's submissions as untrue,explaining that his First Vice-President was saddled with the responsibility of attending to Emmanuel's burial.

"My first vice handled the matter and I believed we did our best possible.We took care of  the burial,we bought the casket...,"Ngerem revealed."We knew the family was indigent.But Emmanuel was an employee of the Federal Government,so they should ask what has the government done for him,he worked for them."

The AFN president asserted that the federation had always accorded welfare of athletes the utmost proirity it deserves.He also claimed he was yet to meet with Mrs.Alidu who has been in Lagos since beginning of the week.