Trade by barter in Taekwondo

We caught up with the Secretary of the Federation, Clement Iyaluegbehe and sought to know why their incumbent president, Dr. Jonathan Nnaji decided to contest as a first vice-president, rather than go for a second term.

Clement did not have to go searching his files for an answer.  He had it on his finger tips as if, he was expecting it.  From his answers, the exponents of the historical 'Trade by Barter', would laugh themselves to scorn, for Clement made their approach and system, look sheepish.

Just after a year of leadership at the Federation, one would have expected Nnaji to want to continue as President of the Taekwondo Federation.  No, no it was not so and Clement Iyaluegbehe, the federation's head of administration, would defend:  ''Nnaji has a right to go for any position he wished and he felt the position of a first vice, was okay for him and he went for it.''

Under Nnaji in one year, the country came second at the All-Africa Games in Abuja for the first time, brought back Mouka Foam sponsorship of the game, attended all congresses at his own expense, consistently sponsored Nnaji Under-14 Taekwondo championship the country qualified for the Olympics for the first time and many other achievements.

With these glowing chain of achievements, it would not have been out of place for the incumbent President to go for a real tenure.  But, Secretary Iyaluegbehe was on hand with these again:

''The new man who has come in, I must say, is a big, big, big plus for taekwondo.  With Governor Gbenga Daniel, as the new chairman of the federation, the game will take a new shape, and begin to look up.  I tell you, the problem of lack of sponsorship, will become a thing of the past.

''Nigeria is supposed to be a country to look up to in taekwondo in Africa and one to reckon with in the world.  But because of lack of competitions and  exposure, due to lack of sponsorship, we have been second to Egypt.  Again, I say that will now be a thing of the past.

''And with Nnaji as the first vice-president of Africa Taekwondo Union, the sky is not just the limit, but heaven is the limitl.''

Clement claimed that the governor's choice of taekwondo shows his love for sports and not just football alone.  ''His choice of taekwondo, is a testimony to his love for the game.  He is a go getter and this is why we celebrate his acsension of the throne in our federation.  His tenure, we believe, would bring a great change to Taekwondo Nigeria.

''Nnaji has taken the line he chose to take and we are happy.  He is a complete gentleman, who has a lot of respect for his elders.  He was there when Taekwondo Nigeria was founded and he has been doing all he could to see the game move forward in the country.

''So, if he as a gentleman to the core, he sees anybody who stretches his hands of fellowship to assist the course of the game, there is no harm in so doing.  That, I think was why he had to bow out for the governor;'' the Secretary concluded.