EXCLUSIVE: You can’t do the job well unless you’re ready to lose it – Obi

No, this is not Peter Obi, just in case. But before Peter, Mitchell is. Yes, Mitchell Obi, sports journalist extraordinaire; famed ‘The Master’ for his versatility in the handling, analysis and reporting of various games of sports.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mastersports International and onetime Special Adviser to a former Minister of Sports in Nigeria, is stepping down as an Executive Member of International Sports Press Association (AIPS) after 18 years of meritorious service and representing the interest of Africa, in the highly acclaimed 98-year-old global body.

Obi, former Sports Editor of The Guardian newspaper, is currently the President of Africa Sports Journalists Union (ASJU)/AIPS Africa and Vice President of the AIPS.

The multi-linguist renowned journalist, who was recently honoured with a doctorate by a University in Benin Republic, said he would be “stepping aside” in Dakar, Senegal, in February 2023, during the Africa Congress, after nine years in the saddle as ASJU/AIPS Africa President and 18 years as Executive Member of AIPS.

However, the AIPS, apparently conscious of the enormous value the widely travelled, award-winning, multi-disciplinary sports writer-cum-commentator will add to it, is not letting him go, just yet. The global sports journalist group has already ‘reabsorbed’ the 63-year-old veteran as Honorary Member.

READ: From Benin Republic honour comes to the Master, Mitchell Obi

In a chat with RELIABLESOURCENG.COM, Obi said: “In summary, I am stepping aside definitively in February next year as the President of the Africa Sports Journalist Union (ASJU)/AIPS Africa and Vice President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), after nine years in the saddle.

“The Congress in Rome (Italy) this week (last week) was my last after 18 years as a member of the AIPS Exco. Thus, my farewell speech at the Congress, who made me an honorary member of the 98-year-old body.”

Obi said he is voluntarily stepping aside to give the younger generation of sports journalists in Africa an opportunity to lead the ASJU as well as make their mark in the global AIPS.

“It is time to give generation next an opportunity and in Dakar, Senegal, February, that will happen in Africa’s Elective Congress,” he said.

Sounding rather philosophical, Obi summed up his leadership period at ASJU/AIPS paradoxically: “Life as experienced over six decades has taught me that you can’t do the job well unless you are ready to lose it. I’m not a fervent student of third term mandates.”