Apologise or face legal action, Enoh cautions Bash Alli

In response to allegations by former World Boxing Champion Bash Alli in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, Enoh has issued a statement urging the boxer to confront Alli and face legal action. Enoh stated that he is constrained to speak to the trending video and open petition wherein Alli demanded $1m from him to endorse his plan to stage the oldest boxers' fight in Nigeria.

Alli's video went viral after chess master Tunde Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for chess marathon. Enoh defended himself by stating that ignoring Alli would be a profound mistake, as the public perception of those in the public service is not true. He emphasized that there are men and women who continue to serve the country with honesty, integrity, and patriotism, and Enoh was one of them.

Enoh also clarified that Alli had wanted to meet him upon his resumption in office but was cautioned by his staff. Enoh decided to meet him out of respect for his age and based on the open-door policy with which he is currently leading the ministry.

Alli's plan to stage his boxing fight in Nigeria has a long history spanning almost two decades, and he has deployed various strategies, including naked blackmail and underhand tactics, to arm-twist the Federal Government to spend upwards of $50m to stage his fight. Successive Ministers of Sports have rightly told Alli that his plan to stage this fight is not the responsibility of the government but a business that the private sector should execute.

The attack on Bash Alli, despite numerous challenges, is an attack on decency, honesty, and integrity. The soul of our country remains, and humanity will be irretrievably destroyed if we lose it. The move to clear my name has just started, and I will continue to strive for this sacred mission.