BPAN boss hits back at ‘jealous’ critics, denies misconduct

Boxing Promoters Association of Nigeria Chairman Omonlei Imadu has hit back at his detractors, attributing the recent exodus of founding members to jealousy over his success in developing the sport.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Imadu dismissed allegations levelled against him, insisting his initiatives through the YUCATECO Boxing League are being targeted by those benefiting from corruption within the system.

“There is so much corruption in the system, so people who have been benefiting from that system, taking advantage of exploitation, when my programme is growing, automatically, they are seeing it as a threat,” Imadu told The PUNCH.

“They thought it was not going to be possible, but we are consistent. So, if me, creating the league, self-funding the league, taking boxers out of the trenches, using my own money to build teams, to donate to various states, supporting those ones, does that translate to impeding the advancement of boxing in Nigeria?” he questioned.

His comments come in the wake of significant turmoil within the organisation, with four founding members, including Vice Chairman Waheed Alabi and Spokesperson Edna Aiyegbeni, tendering their resignations barely seven months after BPAN’s formation.

Imadu vehemently rejected accusations that he was attempting to supplant established boxing institutions or signing underage boxers to professional contracts.

“That is not true. And if they have any proof of that, let them bring it. We are signing a developmental programme and any developmental programme, just like what they call an academy in football, you can take a look at what an academy is like with amateur developmental programme,” he explained.

The YUCATECO Boxing Promotions boss defended the association’s initiatives, particularly highlighting BPAN Care, a healthcare programme established in partnership with Ikeja National Hospital.

“The first 100 boxers who can identify themselves as boxers can actually go, it has never happened in Nigeria before, they can go to that given hospital that we are standing with funded by BPAN, to be able to get free healthcare, MRI scans, hepatitis, all kind of scan related to boxing to be sure they don’t have any issues,” he said.

“I don’t know why people should go against something that is good for the boxers.”

The chairman claimed that those who left the organisation had not been contributing meaningfully saying, “The key people who exited, first and foremost, they did not pay their annual dues. They have not been supportive and they have been anti-progress in BPAN. They became so jealous because our visibility is overshadowing other boxing activities and programmes.”

He further alleged that some departures were motivated by personal ambition saying, “The vice chairman, with evidence, he said it categorically, that he also wants to be a President, and he wants to form another association.”

Addressing concerns that BPAN was working against established boxing authorities, Imadu insisted the association was supportive of government efforts. “BPAN is not against the established boxing authorities. We have even supported the government by giving prize money to winners of government held competitions.”

When asked about the path to unity among Nigerian boxing organisations, Imadu was unequivocal about what he believes is needed saying, “They should shun jealousy, hatred and uphold good developmental efforts.

“Bickering and backbiting need to stop, all stakeholders must come together and look at the bigger picture and put the boxers first.”