There was a mild drama this afternoon as the FCT Abuja leg of the maiden National Good Governance Tour wound up with a Town Hall Meeting at Transcorp Hotel in the Nigerian capital.

At the well-attended forum, former world cruiserweight boxing champion Bash Ali was about to be denied the opportunity of speaking but insisted, whereupon FCT Minister, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, who had taken the microphone to respond to questions and observations, ordered that Ali (showed in photo) should be allowed to speak.

On taking the mic, Ali lamented that he had to fight before he could be allowed to speak at a forum being organised in his own country.

He then went ahead to recount how he brought glory to Nigeria through his boxing exploits and lamented how officialdom has been frustrating his quest to bring a fight to Nigeria that would enable him to become the oldest man in history to become a world boxing champion.

“Mr. President minuted on my letter and directed that I should be assisted to organise the fight. I wrote to the ministry (of Federal Capital Territory, FCT) in 2010 but two years later, I am being told that the file is missing,” the former world cruiserweight champion lamented.

Responding, FCT Minister Mohammed assured Ali that they would sit down after the forum to sort out the issue.

Mr. Labaran Maku, the Information and Communications Minister, who is organising the tour, also assured Ai that Nigeria appreciates the honour he has brought to the country through his illustrious boxing career.

The National Good Governance Tour which started in Abuja last week, is expected to go round the country’s 36 states. It is designed to enlighten Nigerians on the achievements of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and also get feedback from Nigerians.