UPDATE: Bash Ali Turns PDP Secretariat Gateman

The National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
yesterday became a centre of attraction as the former World Federation
Cruiserweight Boxing Champion, Bashi Ali, turned himself into the
secretariat's gateman.

Ali, 57, said he decided to embark on the action to draw government's
attention to his quest to actualise his dream of entering the
``Guinness Book of Records'' as the oldest boxer to win a world title.

It would be recalled that in 2009, Ali had planned to fight Britain's
John Keenton on April 25 in Warri for a Cruiserweight title in his bid
to actualise the objective.

He also made efforts to secure a venue in Nigeria for his World Boxing
Championship fight against Gunn Bobby of the US without any success.

Ali told newsmen yesterday that he decided to turn a gateman to draw
government's attention to the need to inaugurate a local organising
committee (LOC) for his fight in order to enable him realise his
objective.

He recalled that the inauguration of the committee was earlier planned
for November 9, 2006 and March 5, but could not hold.

Ali said he was ready to man the PDP gate as long as it takes the
government to respond positively to his request.

``I have decided to come here today to resume work as PDP
Secretariat's gateman, pending when they deem it necessary to
inaugurate the LOC.

``Am not going anywhere, I will continue to open the gate for them
today; I will do it tomorrow until they do the right thing.

``What I am doing here today by being their gateman is to dramatise
the fact that they cannot continue to drive Nigeria backwards.

``I had the opportunity to meet President Goodluck Jonathan on October
22, 2012, one-on-one and we discussed the issue.''

The boxer explained that he chose the PDP secretariat because of the
party's involvement in the initial arrangement.

``The choice of PDP is because the idea for a LOC was initiated by the
party, which promised to do whatever I wanted for me, then.''