C'River Gov't Rehabilitates Olympic Gold Medalist
By Victor UDU
In it's bid to succor and improve the welfare of the needy, and less privileged, the Cross River State government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in collaboration with the State Assembly have begun the process of rehabilitating an indegent athlete ,Bassey Etim Ironbar.
Ironbar was a 1981 gold medalist from the National Sports festival who was living in abject poverty and degenerated socioeconomic conditions in the streets of Lagos.
Cross River Humanitarian Commissioner, Helen Nsamoh Egodo said on locating Bassey after days of frantic search in Lagos that he is a valuable asset not only to the state but to the Country.
She stated that the Ministry in concerned about the welfare of all citizens and it's committed to fulfilling Gov. Otu's disposition towards the destitutes and less privileged hence the move to take Bassey off the streets.
On his part the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem commended Otu for supporting the Assembly motion in this direction.
He said CRS government has completed plans to carry out a full rehabilitation process and reintegrate him into the society and assured that Bassey would come out a better person.
Recall Bassey had brought laurels to the state and nation from winning several competitions at his prime including a gold medal at the national sports festival, 1981 where he represented Lagos State, three gold medals at Africa weight lifting Championship in Egypt , a bronze medal at the 1982 weight lifting Competition in Malta and in 1984 Los Angeles , California, USA where he sustained injury that forced him out of the medal table.
He had sought self sponsored medical attention abroad but was all futile and was left to nurse his injuries alone.
According to his personal account, Ironbar has lost contact with his family in the USA and has a daughter serving in the US Marines.
Until government intervention, he lived in a temporary make shift shelter along a street in Lagos where he retires to at the end of his daily chores which include, helping the elderly cross the Lekki Ajai express way, sweeping the streets and cleaning the drainages.
While applauding government gesture in contributing to his welfare, Bassey acknowledged his nativity stating that "the state came for their own" and that the sky is the limit.
It is expected that after the rehabilitation exercise Bassey would be drafted into the Sports Ministry from where he would contribute his own quota to sports development.
