By Michael Lakpah
In a dramatic twist at the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) Ogun 2024, Bayelsa State has once again found itself at the receiving end of questionable sportsmanship from host state Ogun, raising concerns over fair play and integrity in national sporting events.
According to His Excellency Governor Douye Diri and the Bayelsa State Sports Council (BYSSC), Ogun State has earned a reputation for deploying unconventional tactics whenever they play host, aiming to subdue their competition by any means necessary.
This is not the first time Bayelsa has suffered at the hands of Ogun’s festival maneuvering—the 15th NSF Gateway Games 2006 saw a similar scenario unfold, marking a troubling pattern nearly two decades apart.
Medals Controversy: How Bayelsa Was Denied Second Place
As of Thursday, May 29, 2025, Team Bayelsa sat comfortably in second place with a commanding lead of over 20 gold medals ahead of Ogun State, which trailed behind Team Delta and Bayelsa in third place.
During the closing ceremony, Governor Diri expressed pride in his contingent, commending their consistent performances and promising a grand reception back home. He celebrated their ability to retain second place from the 21st NSF (Asaba 2022), rewarding them with ₦20 million for their exceptional display.
But Ogun State wasn’t done yet.
Through a slew of last-minute medals, they closed the gap, ending the ceremony day just two gold medals behind Bayelsa (92-90).
By the time participating teams were scheduled to depart on Friday, May 30, 2025, reports emerged that Ogun had miraculously secured three additional gold medals, overtaking Bayelsa by the narrowest of margins—93 gold medals to Bayelsa’s 92.
A Recurring Pattern: Governor Diri’s Warning
Governor Diri was not surprised by Ogun’s actions.
For those who attended the 3rd Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classic closing ceremony on November 9, 2024, his warnings about Ogun’s hosting tactics echoed loudly.
He recounted his experience at Gateway Games 2006, stating:
“I will never forget in 2006 when we went to Abeokuta. I was then the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, and Ogun State made it clear they were hosting to win. They deployed all kinds of unconventional sports practices. Unfortunately for them, they still didn’t come first or second. Then, seeing that Bayelsa was battling them for third place, they decided we could not be allowed to finish ahead of them.”
Governor Diri further revealed how intense the battle became, recalling:
“At one point, President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had to personally invite me to intervene, asking me to take charge of my athletes to prevent chaos in the stadium.”
With history repeating itself at Ogun 2024, many are now questioning the integrity of medal allocations and whether hosting states should be held to stricter standards to prevent such incidents from undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s premier sports festival.
Bayelsa Unfazed, Focused on the Future
While many are outraged over Ogun’s controversial tactics, Team Bayelsa remains resolute and undeterred, knowing they have performed exceptionally despite the challenges thrown their way.
As the dust settles on Ogun 2024, Bayelsa sports officials and athletes are already looking ahead, determined to cement their legacy as one of Nigeria’s most formidable sporting states—whether their opponents play fair or not.