Bribery scandal rocks chess and wrestling

Rivers Chess players claim their Edo state counterparts are offering them bribes of close to fifty thousand naira in order to go past them in chess.

“At the last sports festival, we also met Edo state and their players told us that Igbinedion offered them one hundred thousand naira each for a gold and they wanted us to part with the gold for thirty thousand but we refused,” A Rivers Chess player who was at the last sports festival told Nigeriasports.com.

He claimed that on getting to Abuja they were scorned at by the Edo athletes because the Rivers State Governor did not reward them for their gold medal wining feat.

“They started laughing at us saying that we deprived them of gold the last time and went with nothing.”

“Now they claim their Governor is offering one hundred and fifty thousand naira per gold medal and are willing to offer us fifty thousand if we let them win.”

Rivers Sports Commissioner to douse flames

The Sports Commissioner of Rivers State, Allwell Onyesoh may visit the Rivers State Chess players in a bid to nip in the bud, any move by Edo State to buy them over.

Allwell Onyesoh told nigeriasports.com that he does not believe his athletes will sell out for cash for something as cheap as fifty thousand naira.

“No Athlete from Rivers State would come that cheap. We may not have made bogus promises like Edo and Delta State, but from experience our athletes know we change the lives of all those who do the state proud.”

He cited the case of final Year University of Port Harcourt Student, Obia Inyingiyikabo who received the sum of one million naira and a brand new BMW car for her feat at the last All Africa Games.

“I will see the chess players and reassure them not to sell themselves over that pittance they are being offered by Edo State.

Rivers Chess Coach reiterates players loyalty

The Coach of the Rivers State Chess team, Benibo Amiefori told nigeriasports.com that he has no fear about his players selling out to Edo or any other state.

Benibo said his players were picked, first for their form and second for there loyalty to the state.

"I dont know how true the stories are but i do not see any player here who is wearing the colours of Rivers State selling a chance to go into history books for fifty thousand naira or anything of that nature."

Coach Benibo told nigeriasports.com that his wards were on course and even waived Edo State as being a threat to their ambitions.

"We would rather look closely at Bauchi and FCT, not Edo State."

Rivers coach claims he was offered bribe by Anambra

Meanwhile, in one of the Wrestling events, a Rivers State Coach, Aye Godfrey  claims he was offered a one thousand naira bribe by the Anambra coach to stop his wrestler from coming out for the bronze medal winning fight against the wrestler from Anambra.

“How could I have accepted that?” Aye Godfrey told nigeriasports.com.

“His plan was that I should find a way to stop my girl from coming out for the fight so they would get the bronze but I told him that I would not do that because no matter what happens, my girl would beat his.”

The wrestling coached said he refused the offer and the Anambra state female wrestler refused to come out for the fight giving Rives State the bronze medal.