By Muhammad Musbahu Basirka
The Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club, founded in the year 1991 following the establishment of Jigawa State, aimed to rival top Nigerian and African football clubs. The club experienced early success, earning pride and admiration from the people of Jigawa.
Regrettably, present circumstances reveal the club’s failure to achieve significant results, leading to their forthcoming relegation to the lowest national league. This impending descent is poised to be a moment of disgrace for the government and citizens of Jigawa State.
The Jigawa State government must intervene promptly to salvage the state’s global reputation. Particularly alarming was a recent incident where a Jigawa Golden Stars player was accused of scoring a goal with his hands during a home game in Dutse. Such occurrences tarnish the club’s image and reflect poorly on the state. Indigenous people of Jigawa refuse to tolerate this decline and demand an end to the current state of affairs.
Recommendations for Immediate Action:
1. The government must promptly dismiss the current management committee of Jigawa Golden Stars and establish a new independent committee to investigate the club’s activities and financial integrity spanning from 2020 to 2024.
2. Consider transforming Jigawa Golden Stars into an independent entity owned by the government to ensure accountability and efficiency.
3. Create a committee comprised of key stakeholders to craft a comprehensive Jigawa State sports development plan to guide future initiatives and investments.
4. Enact legislation outlining strict criteria for the management committee and staff of Jigawa Golden Stars, including terms of office, responsibilities, disciplinary measures, and dissolution protocols.
We express gratitude to the loyal supporters of Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club and the entire populace of Jigawa State for their patience amidst the challenges posed by a few individuals.
Basirka (Aba-Huraira) is a Social and Human Rights Activist. He can be reached via musbahubasirka@gmail.com
