The Purported
removal of the Alhaji Aminu Maigari led Executive Committee of the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF), has been flayed by top football chiefs in the
country with most of them, including state FA Chairmen saying it was done in
bad taste and it will damage the gains made by Nigerian football in the last
four years.
Among those
against the move are former NFA Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, Delta State
FA Chairman and Executive Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Amaju
Pinnick and 33 state FA Chairmen in the country who will rather not have their
names in print.
It will be recalled that only three State FA Chairmen attended
the Emergency Congress held Tuesday in Abuja.
Galadima in his
submission, said the same brazen manner with which he was removed from office as
then NFA Chairman,was again being displayed only with FIFA standing for the
truth at the moment.
“If the Sports Ministry and the National Sports
Commission, say they were using the Jos Court
judgement to displace the present Executive Committee, then they have flouted
the court order, because the court also said there should be no congress. So
where did they get the powers to appoint an administrator and start to sack all
management staff members, its absurd, illegal and we pray that common sense
will prevail”.
He continued: “As
far as some of us are concerned, the country is retrogressing instead of moving
forward internationally in football. If it has to do with funds management then
we can understand and there are better ways of going about it instead of
putting Nigeria
in bad light for the wrong reasons internationally.” Galadima called on the
Minister to if possible to retrace his steps and look for better counsel,
instead of grandstanding on the removal of the executive committee of the NFF.
“This matter is not about any individual but about the nation and the bad
report and the possible damage this development will do to our football”. We
hear the Minister and another official are going to FIFA headquarters when the
World Cup is going on, it will amount to nothing. Lets settle at home”.
In his own
submission, Amaju, said he has been able to tell the Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo,
his own feelings regarding the present logjam. He said the country’s image and
football must be prevented from politics. “What we are seeing is attempt to
rubbish a very good man in Aminu Maigari, yes he may have his limitations but
in reality Nigeria
has not had it this good for a long time with a football administrator as
Maigari has demonstrated.
The Minister might have his points of argument but Nigeria
should supercede all, otherwise by Tuesday we will be banned by FIFA and that
will take us several years backwards because we cannot be against international
politics of the game.
Amaju said he
believes that if the Presidency actually approved the removal of the Executive
Committee, it was ill-advised and there must be a way to correct the anomaly
and save face from the looming FIFA ban. “We should stop making ourselves a
laughing stock before the international community, because to be honest
football is one of the sectors that has been thriving in the country and we
must make it better instead of fighting ourselves.
The Minister and the NFF
must find a common ground to resolve this issue for the good of the country. We
even hear they want to bring back some characters whose only source of
livelihood is football, we must not go there because we know the antecedents of
these men”.
Also, 33 State FA
Chairmen said they are shocked at the turn of events but will play the waiting
game to ensure that they don’t run foul of FIFA rules and also thread the path
of honour.
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