Daniel Igali adds muscle to B.C. Liberal lineup

February 11 2005

Olympic gold medal winner Daniel Igali has entered the political arena. The former wrestler will run for the Liberals in the spring provincial election.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell introduced Igali as a star candidate at a news conference Thursday.

"We know you will be the next MLA for Surrey-Newton following the May 17th election," Campbell said at the event.

The Nigerian-born athlete first came to Canada for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, held in Victoria, B.C. On that visit, he applied for refugee status, and went on to win the gold medal for Canada at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Now completing his master's degree in criminology at Simon Fraser University, the 31-year-old political novice says he wants to give back to his adopted country.

"Because of what Canada has done for me, because of what B.C. has done for me, I want to give back," Igali said. "I believe I have the dedication and the drive."

The Surrey-Newton seat is now held by fellow liberal Tony Bhullar. He is stepping aside and moving to the neighbouring riding of Surrey-Panorama Ridge, hoping to defeat the NDP's Jagrup Brar, who won in a landslide in a by-election last year.

The NDP candidate for Surrey-Newton, Harry Bains, was not impressed with the Igali announcement.

"It's typical of these Liberals in B.C.," he said. "They think they can hide behind the popularity of this famous athlete."

Although the Liberals won a landslide in the 2001 election -- taking all but two seats in legislature -- their ranks have been thinned by the resignations of several cabinet ministers, including former finance minister Gary Collins and former deputy premier Christy Clark.



Daniel Igali speaks with reports Thursday from the B.C. riding on Surrey-Newton.

CTV.ca News Staff

Feb. 11 2005



Igali wrestles his dream into reality: school readies for opening day
SFU criminology student and Olympic wrestler Daniel Igali of Surrey has Canada to thank for helping make his boyhood dream come true.
He talked to Langley Rotarians October 6 about his Nigerian school.
Daniel Igali adds muscle to B.C. Liberal lineup
CTV.ca News Staff

Olympic gold medal winner Daniel Igali has entered the political arena. The former wrestler will run for the Liberals in the spring provincial election.


Daniel Igali speaks with reports Thursday from the B.C. riding on Surrey-Newton.

CTV.ca News Staff