By Ebimo Joseph
It must be a big joke of some sort that Halkin Exploration and Production Limited signed a sponsorship deal with Bayelsa United Football Club of Yenagoa.
While private involvement and sponsorship of a football team is a welcome development to grow the game, this particular one is not tidy.
It looks like a pretentious move by management of the indigenous oil firm to placate the Bayelsa state government.
Have we suddenly forgotten the underhand deal that controversially stripped Bayelsa state of her Atala Oil field and re-awarded the licence to Halkin?
For a company, which was allegedly involved in the controversial “theft” of the state huge asset, the Atala Field (formerly Oil Mining Lease 46), the move to use another state’s football sensation, Bayelsa United Football Club, to launder image, is distasteful.
The company’s sudden appearance as a friendly organisation is a big suspect!
Gosh! One may be tempted to call the move a smart one but it rudely can’t sell.
In the deal, Bayelsa United players and officials will wear new branded kits bearing Halkin name and logo for both home and away games in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League season.
That’s massive publicity and promotional to Halkin in a smart public relations move to win sympathy of the people as a responsible corporate organisation.
This new football deal is purely a “back hand deal” and cannot be in the overall interest of the people of Bayelsa state.
How could any Bayelsa outfit promote a company that allegedly “stole” her prized asset, Atala Oil Field?
This is an unholy marriage between Bayelsa United and Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.
Feelers from the Bayelsa State Government House say Governor Douye Diri has queried the unholy marriage and called for immediate termination of such agreement so shrouded in secrecy.
The deal between Bayelsa United FC and Halkin Exploration and Production Limited can not pass integrity test in quest for business morality, fairness, and justice.
Simply, the State Ministry of Youth and Sports and the management of Bayelsa United FC should take caution. This deal annoys the sensibilities of the people of Bayelsa state!
Ebimo Joseph writes from Yenagoa
NOTE: The content of this opinion is the expressed view of the writer
