GENERAL ELECTION; COMMONWEALTH GAMES D-DAY.. Former dictator predicts Nigerian victory.

Byline: By Mark McGivern

A FORMER dictator of Nigeria yesterday claimed that Scotland had no chance of winning the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

General Yakubu Gowon bragged: "The answer is no, so don't waste your breath.

"We're going there for a good fight and, remember, I'm a general."

Gowon, who is fronting the bid for Abuja, made the claim as the whole of Scotland waited with bated breath to see whether Glasgow will win the Games.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the decision will be announced today at 12.45pm, First Minister Alex Salmond was far from rattled by the general's ravings.

He said: "Although we have a general here, this is not a war. This is an election campaign between two friendly rivals.

"There is an emotional pull from Africa but we are supremely confident we can win this for Scotland."

"I believe the 71 countries here constitute the best electorate in the world. Glasgow is perfectly content to leave the decision to the judgment of these great countries.

"There isn't another country in the entire Commonwealth that could win this bid apart from Scotland, because of the appeal of Africa."

Last night, Gordon Brown sent a good luck message to the team behind the Glasgow bid.

The Prime Minister said: "I would like to send my best wishes and good luck to Glasgow ahead of the big decision.

"Glasgow would host a tremendously successful games in 2014 and, following my discussions with the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation last week, I am confident that they recognise Glasgow's status.

"Glasgow has a proven track record in hosting major sporting events and holding the Commonwealth Games in Scotland would take us one step closer to making the next decade the greatest ever for British sport."

Yesterday, the Glasgow team presented their bid in full to the Commonwealth's 71 key voters.

And confidence was running high.

Salmond said: "I think the fund of goodwill that we have is exemplary.

"We acknowledge that there is a case for an African Games but we remain very confident that we'll complete the job here.

"We've got a great feeling but we're leaving nothing to chance, taking nothing for granted.

"In any election campaign, you work until the last minute.

"It's a very varied electorate, ranging from a country of 1700 people to the largest at 1.2billion. So they all have different priorities but all share a love of the Commonwealth.

"We are trying to put forward a bid that appeals to head and heart.

"The evaluation of our bid was first class and the technical aspects are excellent. But we also have to appeal to the heart of the Commonwealth."

Glasgow needs to secure 36 of 71 votes to win the Games.

But cocky Nigerians, led by General Gowon, claimed the contest was already in the bag.

Gowon ruled Nigeria from 1966 when the previous dictatorship was overthrown.

After ruling for nine years, a coup was launched against him and he was hounded out of the country.

He fled to the UK, eventually enrolling at Warwick University, where he obtained a PhD in political science.

After another change of power in his homeland, Gowon returned in 1981. He was chosen to head Abuja's Games bid after establishing himself as a champion of peacekeeping at grass-roots level.

He said: "We've hosted similar games to these, maybe not as big, but we've hosted the African Games in 1973 and 2003 and they were both very successful.

"It's not just about Abuja and Nigeria, though - the whole of Africa will be involved because they are part of Abuja's bid."

The Games will be worth a fortune to the winning country.

They will cost pounds 300million to stage but Scotland would reap back far more in spin-offs.

The Glasgow bid would bring a state-of-the-art swimming pool and a velodrome to the city, as well as providing housing in one of the city's most needy areas. Bid leader Louise Martin, Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell and former decathlete Jamie Quarry set out their case to the 71 voting countries.

Purcell said: " The one thing that connects all these countries is sport. That is why our key message about the facilities is so important. We have put the athletes at the centre of our bid.

"The evaluation report underlines the strength of our bid and the delegates will have read that. We have appealed to the heart but to the mind as well."

The Glasgow team believed there could be 20 nations who were waiting until the last minute until deciding who to vote for.

Salmond said: "'Some will wait until the final presentation to make up their minds.

"The presentation will emphasise the central role of athletes in our bid.

"Most of these delegates will have been athletes at some stage. They've competed at the top level, so they come at it from that point of view.

"And 70 per cent of the facilities are already in place - that's a huge strong point.

"We'll ensure competitors have not only the time of their lives, but the Games of their lives."

Derek Casey, who is directing Glasgow's bid - which is backed by Highland Spring - said he took the general's views with a pinch of salt. He added: "You don't have cities going around saying they don't have votes, so I'm not surprised he would say that.

"We have to continue to push the case for Glasgow.

"When 69 of the 71 voters came to Glasgow in the summer, they could see the hunger for the games in the city.

"Of course, there are floating voters.

"Some people are firmly in one group, others want to go for their favourites and there's a group in the middle.

"Many will have been mandated and we know the results of some of those mandates.

"I don't believe there's a block vote from Africa. I suspect they will make the judgment on what is best for the athletes."

Habu Gumel, President of Nigeria's Olympic Committee, was a little more muted than Gowon in his predictions for the vote.

He said: "I believe we have the ability to deliver these Games and we have the facilities and government funding.

"That's why we are confident that everything will be in the favour of Abuja. It's a close contest between brothers but there are always favourites.

"In boxing, they say a little punch can make such a difference. If you have a jab, you can hold things together. It will be very fair."

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CAPTION(S):

RIVALS: Salmond with a Games ballot paper. Left, Gowon