Former national hammer throw champion and Team Nigeria liaison officer, Gabriel Opuana, has come to the defense of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), calling out critics spreading what he calls “baseless and damaging claims.”

His remarks follow allegations made by former AFN board member and spokesman, Dare Esan, against the Federation and its President, Chief Tonobok Okowa.

“It’s deplorable and disappointing,” said Opuana, “that critics who’ve benefited from the AFN’s goodwill now seek to tear it down. This campaign of calumny must stop.”

He added that such attacks, especially when unfounded, risk scaring off sponsors and discouraging well-meaning stakeholders from investing in athletics.

Opuana questioned the credibility of Esan’s article, asking why it wasn’t published in a reputable outlet like Complete Sports, where Esan is still an editor.

He further called on the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to rein in Esan, noting that his persistent negativity over the past 30 months has done more harm than good.

“As stakeholders gather for the All-Nigeria Athletics Championships and the World Championships trials in Yabatech, this should be a time for unity—not sabotage,” Opuana concluded.