The Minister of Sports and
Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has ordered quick and
unambiguous resolution of the crisis threatening to tear the Nigeria Football
Federation apart, and directed feuding parties to sheathe their swords in the
interest of peace.
Danagogo, at a meeting with top
officials of the Federation and the faction led by Ambassador Chris Giwa,
specifically charged that the court case entered into by the Giwa faction
should immediately be withdrawn to save Nigeria from impending FIFA hammer. He
also confirmed holding a meeting with President of Confederation of African
Football (CAF), Alhaji (Dr) Issa Hayatou in Windhoek on Saturday, where the CAF
supremo told him in no uncertain terms that FIFA and CAF have had it up to
their neck with Nigeria.
“Dr. Hayatou told me Nigeria could
actually have been stopped from playing the final of the African Women
Championship in Namibia on Saturday, but he had to plead with FIFA to stop its
Emergency Committee from taking immediate action. He also explained that such
an occurrence would have handed the trophy automatically to Cameroon, and
people would have thought that being a Cameroonian, he instigated such to
favour his country.
“The CAF President was really
unhappy with us. He brought out documents which constitute the protocols that
every country wishing to be in the international football family had to sign,
and which Nigeria signed. Part of these is the fact that disputes in football
have to be taken to arbitration, and not civil courts.”
Restating that national interest
and the interest of football should be paramount in the minds of those battling
for the soul of the Nigeria game, Danagogo directed that the court case should
be withdrawn and that both NFF President Amaju Pinnick and Ambassador Giwa
should sit down like brothers and discuss firmly on ways to bring to an end the
imbroglio.
“I am not interested in who is
the NFF President. I am concerned with the interest of our country and the fact
that football is such a serious matter for us and a ban from international
football would be a disaster.
“I can assure you all that the
Federal Government will not take kindly to any individual or group that
contribute to an unfortunate situation of Nigeria getting banned from
international football.”
Among those present at the
meeting were NFF President Amaju Pinnick, Ambassador Giwa, NSC directors Dr.
Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu, NFF Executive Committee member, High
Chief Emeka Inyama, General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, Mr. Adama Yahaya,
Mr. Sani Fema and Chief Rumson Baribote.
The Sports Minister has ordered
the parties involved to reconvene at his office on Wednesday afternoon to
report back on their resolutions.
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