A football enthusiast, Hon. Nick Wende, has condemned recent attacks on the vice-chairman of Lobi Stars, Dominic Iorfa, by people he described as ‘disgruntled elements’ despite rescuing the club from relegation.
The former Commissioner for Water Resources in Benue State who was reacting to the call for Iorfa’s sack by Hilary Agber on the basis of spurious allegations said instead the former Nigeria international should be commended for accepting the herculean and hazardous task of keeping Lobi Stars in the Nigerian top-flight.
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He also expressed shock that Iorfa’s antagonist didn’t spare the Deputy Governor and chairman of the club, Engineer Benson Abounu, by calling for the dissolution of the Lobi Stars’ board duly constituted by Governor Samuel Ortom.
“The attack on Dominic Iorfa by one Hilary Agber is baffling and unwarranted. If he were a genuine football stakeholder, he should have joined well-meaning Benue people who are appreciating Iorfa for successfully carrying out the assignment.
“It would have been shameful and a big stain on the Samuel Ortom-led government, if Lobi Stars were relegated.
“The attack on the Deputy Governor of Benue State was also in bad faith and out of ignorance. The office of the Deputy Governor should be given maximum respect rather than dragging it into the mud as being done by those who are pained that Iorfa led Lobi Stars out of relegation,” Wende opined.
He also argued that the dissolution of the club’s management and Lobi Stars academies was at the instance of the government and not Iorfa as alleged.
Wende, therefore, concluded that Iorfa who has saved over N100m the state would have used in buying another slot, if Lobi Stars were relegated, deserves a pat on the back for rescuing the state-owned club from relegation.