NFF Presidential Aspirants’ Profiles, Weak, Strong Points And Chances Unveiled

By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 12, 2022

It will be interesting to inform you dear readers that at last, the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has constituted Electoral Committee last week Friday in her Secretariat in the National Stadium, Surulere.

The ceremony which was performed by the Caretaker  Committee Chairman, Aaron Akerejola and his members Olatutu Oladunni, Secretary and Oluwole Alakija, Adviser while Vice President South West Zone, Ajayi Obe was on hand to observe proceedings.

The Chairman of SWANECO is Taiwo Adelu, a Senior editorial staff of PM News online, Chris Obiakor, a Publisher would serve as Vice Chairman while Victor Enyinnaya, Editor-In-Chief of Daily Sports as Secretary.

However, both Caretaker Chairman and Vice President South West Zone urge the SWANECO to go about their duty diligently as Lagos State chapter of SWAN is on course and also acted in line with the statute of the body.

Daily Sports, one of the leading and consistent digital all sports newspaper since 10 (ten) years plus now. We have come a long way and our reputation thus far has been upbeat.

It has not been so easy staying pretty where we are today. Our secret has been authoritative, fearless, balancing, authentic, accurate timeliness, freshness etc.

We have been in the thick of the forthcoming elective congress of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) slated for September 30 in Benin City, Edo State.

This week your soar away racy column decided to X-ray the profiles of all the candidates who bought the form and also have gone for screening which took place last week in the secretariat of the apex football house.

This columnist will also weigh their weak and strong points from that stage therefore we will hand it over to analysts and pundits of the game to place judgment or predict where the pendulum would swing to.

Note that all those on the card are great candidates in their own right. However this columnist may not be surprised if at the end of the day candidate outside these lot emerge as the next supremo of NFF.

As a seasoned reporter who has been on ground or this beat for too long now, government has always play one role or the other as an ‘unseen hand’ that would play the crucial role for the emergence of the net NFF President in Benin City, Edo State.

September 30, 2022 NFF poll won’t be an exemption. In short, haven covered NFF elections over these years except the ones the then Military administrations appointed by fiat, I have been there.

Happy reading and a swell time, insist on www.dailysportsng.com always!

AMANZE UCHEGBULAM

Former Chairman NFF Ethics Committee, Former Vice President CAF Board of Appeal, Former First Vice President NFF, Chairman, Imo State Football Association. Director, Bridge FC Lagos is a veteran sports administrator no doubt and has seen it all.

His wide connections are legion and that serves as an added advantage to his candidature. Uchegbulam stood steps tall and high amongst the lot in the race with him.

He is exposed and knew the terrain so much more but sadly such has never served as enough criteria to get someone elected as NFF President.

Uchegbulam is a no nonsense football administrator of great reputation. No doubt he has the vast experience to steer the steady held down Nigerian football to safety anchor.

The problem with Nigerian football federation elective congresses over these odd years have been what could be termed as tradition though makeshift whereby somebody (without enough or rich football background administration will be favoured by the Federal Government to emerge miserably to the larger disadvantage to Nigerian football.

Therefore, Amanze Uchegbulam in civilized world ought to stand great chance of making it as NFF President as his ability to engage the private sector will not be in doubt as he has the intellectual ability and grasp to convince this all important sector to invest into Nigerian football and his security to them that their funds are secured and would be channeled to the main purpose.

DR. CHRISTIAN EMERUWA

State of Origin: He hails from Abia State, Ph.D, Health Education and Human Kinetics, commenced work with the Nigeria Football Association (now NFF) before he moved to Confederation of African Football (CAF) as Head of Safety and Security in Cairo.

We must give it to him for raising the bar in the history of NFF election. His innovation has made all the aspirants brace up decisively. He is an intelligent administrator who knows what it entails to administer football in this age and time.

He is not new to it. He has administrative acumen and clout to attract private sector investment into football. You cannot deny him of being very experienced in the administration of football. He is currently in the main stream of African football in CAF.

A shrewd and cerebral technocrat; Christian Emeruwa knows where the shoe pinches in Nigeria football. He is world class and his name will attract private sector into investing into Nigerian football administration which will bring sanity into the apex football body.

His administration in the NFF if given the nod would also bring stability into our national teams too as sharp practices and sundry would stop.

Emeruwa, who is also a FIFA Security Officer, boasts of a proven track record in safety and security matters at match venues across the globe.

Before his appointment, the doctorate degree holder in Health Education and Human Kinetics had served as Special Assistant to three successive Nigeria Football Federation’s General Secretaries and coordinated Safety and Security issues at a number of matches and competitions for CAF and the World’s football governing body, FIFA.

Our football will be in good and great hands with him as NFF head. The fears of numerous football pundits are the Nigerian usual way of doing things bringing in just anybody to man one of the most complex football federations in the continent cum globe.

IBRAHIM GUSUA

Ibrahim Gusau is a Nigerian politician and former Minister for Agriculture and Industries. He contested the primaries of the Gubnetorial seat of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983 but lost to the incumbent Garba Nadama. He is also a member of the Sokoto Sultanate Council with the title of Sarkin Malamai and was a member of the 1977 and 1995 constitutional assembly.

He was the National Chairman of United Nigeria Congress (UNC) which merged with United Nigeria Party (UNP) and Solidarity Group of Nigeria (SGN) led by Umaru Dikko to form the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during the Sani Abacha transition program.

Ibrahim‘s estimated net worth, monthly and yearly salary, primary source of

income, cars, lifestyle, and much more information have been updated below.

Ibrahim who brought in $3 million and $5 million Networth.  Ibrahim collected most of his earnings from his Yeezy Sneakers while he had exaggerated over the years about the size of his business, the money he pulled in from his profession real–enough to rank as one of the biggest celebrity cash outs of all time. His Basic income source is mostly from being a successful Politician.

He has a whopping net worth of $5 to $10 million. In addition to his massive social media following actor.

In terms of experience Gusau has come a long way. The million dollar question now is does he have the capability to attract enough private investment that would steady Nigerian football currently in comatose.

Also his ability to pull Nigerian football upward remains one big hurdle for his candidacy. His computer literacy ability is also one of the disadvantages against him.

Personally, he has deep pocket and no doubt an experienced old brigade Nigerian politician who have made Nigerians to rise in anger. His chances would be based on fact that he is from the Northern part of the country where one arrogant group in the federation insisted must clinch the top job come September 30, elective congress in Benin City, Edo State.  Foot ball administration had gone past old brigade approach.

SHEHU DIKKO

Shehu Dikko (born in KadunaNigeria) is a Nigeria football administrator. He is the Chairman of the League Management Company responsible for the management of the Nigerian Professional Football League. He was previously a consultant for the Nigerian House of Representatives on Sports Committee. Ahead of the 2022 NFF Elections.

He attended Ahmadu Bello University where he studied Quantity Surveying and graduated with a B.Sc. He also did a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the same university. He subsequently obtained his Master of Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University.

Shehu Dikko before going into professional football administration was working in the private sector between 1991 and 2004.  In 2004, when he went into football administration in Nigeria he started as the FIFA Goal Project Manager (Nigeria) with organizing several club tours between Portsmouth F.C. and Manchester United alongside Kano Pillars F.C.

 In 2008, Shehu Dikko was hired as a consultant for the sports committee in the Nigerian House of Representatives where he served till 2011. While he was a consultant for the government, he assisted in the drafting the National Sports Commission bill in the National Assembly.

In 2012 he was appointed Secretary of Super Eagles Bonus Row and code of conduct drafting till 2013.  In September 2014, he ran for office of the NFF President but withdrew his candidacy before election was officially held.

In December 26, 2014, he was appointed Chairman of League Management Company by the Nigeria Football Federation.

On April 4, 2019 Shehu Dikko was reappointed Chairman of the League Management Company.

In April 19, 2016, Dikko ordered the ban of Giwa F.C. after the team had allegedly broken several NPFL rules among the charges were the assault of match referee and other officials during a match. Following the ban, Giwa F.C. sued the LMC and Shehu Dikko to a Federal High Court in Plateau State. In August 16, 2016 Shehu Dikko was ordered by the Court to reinstate Giwa F.C. into the NPFL.

In September 2016, a Federal High Court in Jos ordered the arrest of Dikko for failing to reinstate Giwa F.C. He was subsequently asked to appear before the Court and when he failed to appear in Court, the Court ruled on two weeks imprisonment for Shehu Dikko.

No doubt he has deep profile but as one of the current actors in the NFF he has been unable to attract private sector to flood NFF with investment. He will not also detach himself from the mess that is Nigerian football today. 

Roundly, Dikko and his co-travelers in the current executive committee board of the NFF are culpable for what befell and still befalling the game today. Analysts and pundits are still at loss what he has forgotten in football House in Abuja. 

PETERSIDE IDAH

Idah Peterside is ex-Nigerian international football goalkeeper and media officer, television pundit and Pastor.

He retired from active football in 2002.[ He is currently a football analyst for SuperSports and Pastor at Christ Ambassadors Church based in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Idah as an ex-international paid his dues. However, in football administration level, he is no where to be found. That he is a nowadays Pastor does not qualify him as a serious contender to become the supremo in the apex football house in Nigeria.

As a executive committee member consideration may be extended to him as an ex-international because to become a President of the NFF the individual must have wide connection especially among who’s who in the private sector. He must earn their confidence and that he does not possess presently.

Also his profile is weak and one wonders where his strength lies.

SEYI AKINWUNMI

Seyi Akinwunmi is the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation.  He was appointed Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.  He is Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association.  In 2012, he served on the Adhoc Committee for restructuring the Nigeria National League.

Seyi Akinwunmi is a partner in the firm of Akinwunmi & Busari and heads the Banking, Finance and Insolvency practice. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 and has over 28 years’ experience as a Legal and Insolvency practitioner, with specialization in debtor/creditor’s rights, debt and corporate recovery and turnaround strategies. 

Lesbian Speech 

On 13 June 2016, during an interview with news agencies, allegedly blamed lesbianism in the non-advancement of women in sports in Nigeria.  In his statement "Lesbianism kills teams. People are afraid to talk about it. The coaches take advantage of the girls, so there is much more to build in female football. Last year, I think the most problematic person to the chairman of female league was Seyi Akinwunmi, I launched several attacks just to ensure things worked accordingly. So, I decided that look, if it’s so difficult for you, let us show you how it’s done

To be fair to him, his speech on one of the ills that hinder Women football in Nigeria would remain a landmark crusade from him against that deadly ill.

However, his experience in football administration is weak. It is doubtful from his profile if he would be able to attract the attention of the private sector to invest in Nigeria football which is the only best way to go if the game will stop the current practice where government that has found it extremely difficult to provide essential amenities for the citizenry to adequately fund football in the land.

It may not be out of place to say that he is an outsider in this race to Sunday Dankaro House, Abuja top job.

ABBA YOLA

Yola, who is currently Chief of Staff to Sunday Dare, the Sports Minister, has imprints in football and basketball as well as being Secretary for several Local Organizing Committees for major competitions in the country.

The former Kano Pillars chairman; he has gathered over 40 years of experience in Nigeria’s sports administration.

Yola being around for many decades is equally applause. However, the way and manner he intends to achieve greatness for football in today’s game’s administration has been what bookmakers and other keen followers of Nigerian football have been trying to think out.

As one of the old blocks Abba Yola will have to brace up and get delegates convinced that he has an antidote for the failed Nigerian football. The work to be done to facelift the game generally in the country remains enormous.

The survival of Nigerian football as it is today revolves around total embrace by the private sector and whether Yola has such large heart and connection required to stage such conclusively, Nigerian football fans are eager to see.  

CHIEF FAN NDUBUOKE:

State of Origin:  Imo State. Local Government Area: Aboh Mbaise Village/Town: Mbutu./Fan as his numerous admirers fondly call him, is a humble and industrious gentleman, noted for his knack for hard work. These attributes resulted in his exemplary and meteoric rise from the obscure sports desk of the then Imo Broadcasting Service (IBS) Owerri, where he worked for nine (9) years before joining Champion Newspapers as a pioneer Senior Sports writer (1988). • Fan co-founded National Sports link Newspaper in 1991 and on the peak of his career variously as • Former Managing Editor. National Sportslink Newspaper • Secretary-General. Africa Sports Journalists' Union (ASJU) • President. Sports Writers Association of Nigeria • General Manager, Media and Communications Department, 8"' All African Games. Organizing Committee, he was executive Chairman, Imo State Sports Commission and many others.

Establishments Soon after the above public and professional office tenures, fate seemed to have carved a role for the subsequent founding and leadership of CHYMLAKA Group: Mr. Fan's Fast Foods, St. Fan's Promotions (Media/Publicity) on Fan Ndubuoke Religious Affiliation Mr. Ndubuoke is an Anglican by faith, married with three (3)children, to an amiable wife, Chinyere. His devotion to God as the ultimate provider of all human needs invariably influenced his philanthropic gestures once in a while and his passion for entertainment.

His advent into the entertainment and hospitality business has over shot the football arena as sports reportage and now crystallized into his founding the Mr. Fan's brand of fast foods, which in similar patterns of excellence set a major milestone by constantly featuring high profile Comedy.

Drama and popular Music Artistes alongside promotions of the Mr. Fan's brand of fast food from Lagos, through Owerri, Calabar, Aba and so on.

Hobbies: Fan is an accomplished sports (football) Administrator. Writer and resource person any day.

Awards: He is also a recipient of several awards, one of which he cherishes most: The Ezinwa (Model Child) of St. Peter's Anglican Church Mbutu. Aboh Mbaise. Fan Ndubuoke is widely traveled and likes challenges. Fan is a long-time friend of Uvuru community and has consistently identified with several developmental initiatives of Uvuru people.

In recognition of his commitment to societal progress and his philanthropic gestures. Fan was conferred with the Chieftaincy title of "OMEFURU ONYE ODURU OF UVURU.

From his equally rich profile it is not hidden he is seasoned, however what Nigerians are eagerly looking out for is the candidate who would attract private sector huge investments into football to truly help harness the potentials and gain such has brought heavily and solidly to the round leather sport in Europe and some African countries without further experiencing current cap in hand kind of administration always expecting funds from the government.

With the above profile one looks up to see how Fan Ndubuoke would deal with that naughty issue if elected.

Daily Sports promise to do the concluding part of this series in its bid to unveil the candidates. Truth is that it has been interesting profiling these men. They are all poised to change the face of Nigerian football for best reasons.

Our next and last batch of the candidates will be as relaxing as this.

We are here to serve nothing but the truth and balanced reportage and analysis.

Keep shooting hard till next week, meanwhile!!

 

 

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted September 12, 2022


 

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