The Interim Management Committee of Sunshine Stars FC has responded to a recent publication in which Akin Akinbobola, a former aide to ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, blamed the current Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for the team’s relegation from Nigeria’s elite football league.

In his remarks, Akinbobola expressed concerns over the decline of sports development in the state under the APC-led administration, citing the demotion of both the male basketball and handball teams.

He also called for an investigation into Sunshine Stars’ final five matches of the season.

According to a statement issued by the team’s media officer,Isaac Afolabi: In a swift response, the committee described Akinbobola as “a man desperately seeking for relevance,” questioning his credibility and past record in public service.

“Akinbobola is not only out of touch but clearly seeking attention. His antecedents will continue to haunt him, he left behind a trail of mismanagement,” the committee stated.

The Committee alleged that during his tenure as Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), that Akinbobola owed staff five months’ salary despite receiving monthly subvention. He was also accused of illegally deducting staff and players’ salaries for personal gain.

“He has no moral standing to criticize wrongly the present Sunshine Stars interim caretaker committee.

“He continues to lobby for a return to the very agency he once mismanaged. It’s pathetic,” they added.

” We all know all he perpetrated while he was in office, asides the fact he left office with five months backlog of unpaid salaries to staff despite getting the monthly subvention , he was the one that illegally introduced the deductions in the salaries of the agency’s staff members, players and officials.

The committee further explained that Akinbobola’s administration led payed an agent millions of naira from the agency’s coffers without approval and getting a kickback moments later.

According to the committee, Mr Akinbobola attempted to rally support for his recent press briefing by contacting several individuals some declined, while others attended.

However ,the committee expressed confidence in Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership and described him as a principled and experienced politician who would not be swayed by Akinbobola’s “antics.”

Addressing the call to probe the final five matches, the committee argued that those games were among the team’s strongest performances of the season, but initial poor recruitment, disunity, inexperience and poor managerial skills by past handlers had already sealed the team’s fate.

“Mr. Governor knows what is right, and Akinbobola’s baseless criticisms will not derail the administration’s commitment to sports reform and accountability,” the statement concluded.

While we understand Mr Akinbobola’s antics the management won’t dabble into any unhealthy debate with “anyone “but urged Mr Akinbobola to be positive,bring up constructive criticism that could help sports in Ondo state to grow even at this period.

The committee finally commended the ongoing renovation work at the Akure stadium which is part of the process of repositioning sports in the state by our amiable and sports loving governor not forgetting the support and physical presence of Governor Aiyedatiwa at the just concluded NDDC games in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state while some governor’s where not at the event also the massive support for the state contingent going for the 22 national sports festival in Abeokuta ,Ogun state which deserves accolade than condemnation.

The committee pleaded with supporters and the people of Sunshine State to be calm stressing that the disappointment in the present state of Sunshine stars & Sunshine Queens is truly painful ” we understand and feel more” but we are trusting in the ability of governor Aiyedatiwa in making Ondo state a true hub for sports development.