By Arabi Rotimi
Two years ago when kwara state clocked 50 there was a monumental award for top 50 kwaran but the lrony of it is the exclusion of a gem,veteran sports journalist, legend,a great man who out of his little resources and extensive research have served the state for over three decades.
It is pertinent to note that the committee that came out with top 50 kwaran have to seek his historical fact before arriving at the so called award of excellence.It is so pathetic that a man that started from a humble beginning at No 5/6 Sanni okin street adjacent to popular Baboko area of llorin (family house)promoting sports development in kwara state since 1980s in an extra dimension way is been neglected.
The history of sports development will never never be completed in kwara state without mentioning Abdullahi(His other name).The face of sports broadcasting in old kwara ( Present kwara,part of kogi and Niger state) was initiated by him since his sports program on Radio kwara on Saturday and the oldest mid week sports program in nigeria today( Wednesday midweek sports programme) more than three decades ago.
Bayour is more than a sports journalist in sports circle as he can be reffer as VOICE AND FACE OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT NOT EVEN IN KWARA BUT IN NIGERIA. His lmposing sports outfit at the popular E 110 EMIR ROAD IN THE AFONJA CITY is more of a an artifact and tourism for lntending sports journalist, ADMINISTRATOR .
This is the high time the OTOGE SLOGAN should be put into use to a man who have served his state to more than enough.BAYOUR ISSAH is not begging for money nor recognition but what is long over due should be put to place.As he will be marking his birthday ceremony tommorow (15th of September) kwara state government under the leadership of Governor A A should have a matter of urgency bestow an award of excellence to a great selfless servant of the state..lt is too too too long over due.
n apology should be even tender to him over the top 50 award ceremony held two years ago that he was excluded.When l checked through the list then, i nearly wept and had to picked up a call to the club owners secretary aswell as the director of football of Abs llorin, Alloy Chukwuemeka and Abdul momoh( photo journalist) who are product of his school of thought.We must always try to appreciate our heros but not when they are no more than we will start to talk about them.
BAYOUR ISSAH IS KWARA SPORTS, KWARA SPORTS IS BAYOUR ISSAH. KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT OTOGE PLEASE HONOUR THIS LEGEND.
By Arabi Rotimi ( USA)
