By Victor Enyinnaya on September 26, 2022

Clearly put, the upcoming Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election purportedly slated for Benin, Edo State September 30,  if the present power game playing out remains, signals a clear gang up against the will of the people, the game and its development.

You see a society that is too adamant to following best practices would perpetually remain blind and backwardness would continuously be the lot of such set (society). This columnist insists that the frame work or whatever is being used to arrive at transferring NFF Presidency to the Northern is absolutely faulty, outdated and gang up against the widely acceptable best practices where only best foot is put forward by countries that know and believe in best results.

You don’t need to task your brain thinking too far as Nigeria provides the vivid answer to such jangle setting.  Nothing, repeat absolutely nothing is tailored towards how other civilized countries organize things the best way.

Without much ado, it is no hidden fact that Nigeria like a demented hen resorts to sucking her finest eggs. Truth is that such abnormal trend has been hugely responsible to the country’s consistent backwardness in every sense and true of the word.

The country in all facets has also sadly drifted to a laughing stock before international community. The supposedly giant of Africa is also firmly known as one country that assembles her scientists for solution on the eve of an earthquake.

Such notoriety has won the country abundantly blessed naturally from God but sadly left herself so vulnerable thus far to be subjected to this horrible public ridicule, therefore calls for deep soul searching and sober reflection from well meaning, the objective and civilized people out there, hence what has eaten so profound into Nigeria’s fabrics fully manifested in entire polity today and honestly destroying the country installmentally .

A country that has continuously presented her second eleven in place of her first eleven no doubt leaves sour taste in the mouth. Look at it from whatever angle Nigeria presents the characteristics of a failed and deep confused state.

I’m so scandalized putting this piece to bed for this week. I ‘ll not fail to point out what has transpired thus far runner up or otherwise to be or not to be elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation calls for cry for a supposedly beloved country.

One is also tempted to say cry also for the unborn child whose future is already bleak if things continue this way.

How on earth will Nigeria continue this way?  Why has things also gone amiss thus far in Nigeria.  How will Nigeria always shoot herself on the foot each time our brightest come forward to salvage any particular sector like the NFF?.

We have seen intrigues and backlashes coming from all angles to clamour that the top shot of the football governing body in the country is their birth right to rule Nigeria and also is extending to football.  It remains scandalous in every material particular. Such retrogressive steps have held Nigeria down for too long.

Let me say briefly of former President of the NFF who distinguished himself as the first President of the body Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi. For the records, he brought far reaching reforms to the football body by setting the tone maximally.

Sani Lulu Abdullahi put forward solid sustainable developmental goals for the steady growth of the game in the country but there became a setback when he could not make back to the top position of apex football ruling body.  Such setback was occasioned by the usual Nigerian way of sabotaging an achiever.  It has been a trademark in this part of the World that so called power brokers go against any individual who fails to abide by their wills and caprices.

Such Nigerian nasty attitude has become like a norm and it has ruined set progress. Sani Lulu Abdullahi was a victim of such silly and nonsensical show of power in the system.  This columnist will not be doing justice to this brief if he fails to mention that he worked with seasoned administrators like late High Chief Oyuki Obaseki the acclaimed moving train,  Amanze Uchegbulam, a candidate  in this year’s elective congress to be held in Benin, Edo State tentatively in September 30. The regime of Sani Lulu Abdullahi was subverted and Magari was ‘elected’ and that was the beginning to this worst setting in the body till date.

The rot continuous and arrogance with which Amaju Pinnick held the NFF coupled with the mentality of the Northern caucus for power.

That being as it may, Sani Lulu Abdullahi stands tall with his men as one of the NFF regimes which added value in football administration in the country.  He came out such way because he prepared before coming into office. Note that he never wanted to answer one of the past Presidents of the body. Sani Lulu Abdullahi will be very sad man watching  in ultimate dismay,  how the solid foundation he and his men laid for football administration and sundry have been eroded wholesale from one maladministration or the other.

It remains worrisome and unthinkable of in Nigeria that parades some of the best brains in all spheres.  As if this beautiful game has not suffered enough, those at the corridors of power in NFF are playing all dirty intrigues to ensure that a none performer of the first and worst order will succeed the outgoing lame duck regime.

Our football moved forward. But now all things have turned upside down. As at today, football and its administration have drastically drifted. The man who brought this misery to it is still bragging with whole arrogance.

He is bent on handing over to one fellow who has no business in football administration even at the local level talk more of this highest level of football administration. NFF has long became the larger Nigeria its highest office in the land is for sale and to worsen it all, not for brainy but for that man who has no track record, acumen, depth programme and what have you.

It will be instructive to note NFF Presidency has become one that even if you are a no body once you are from a particular part of this country it is your birth right. Exactly what brought Nigeria and Nigerians on their knees today when, out of selfishness some individuals conspired to remove a performing God fearing and with human heart and face President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan via propaganda of all kinds and enthroned this kill-joy, Mahammadu Buhari who has held the country and her citizenry down since 2015.  

 I digress. As it is today, the NFF presidency is revolving around Ibrahim Gusau a veteran football administrator, politician and sundry. He has been there. He has seen it all but who this columnist find it difficult to point at his suitability for the uphill task ahead.

This columnist and other closely watching buffs are still at loss to stick out their necks on this man worth millions of Dollars whether he has learnt something tangible since his sojourned in NFF arena with each administrator including his stint in larger Nigerian political terrain. Truth is again his capacity to be able to tackle headlong the enormous problems the sophistication of today’s digital world has brought upon the game’s administration, planning, marketing etc.

Gusau is favoured to succeed Amaju Pinnick. The pendulum may change knowing how unpredictable and slippery Nigerian terrain or if you like political godfathers and government support or candidate can be. He is currently on the front burner amongst the Northern candidates on the cards. Next is the young FCT Football Association boss.

In as much as we must keep our finger crossed, keenly watching and keeping taps firm,  don’t forget that the people, I meant the fans are not at home with this decision to transfer power in NFF.  This power play is no new. It has been that way and manner.

Those who worked and prepared for power, be it in larger Nigeria or NFF don’t get it, rather power has always been given to the unprepared.

That has been our bane and bone of contention in this country and it has really retarded every facet of our collective human endeavour.  It is the shame of Nigeria. Meanwhile keep shooting hard till next week. As we wait!!  

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted September 26, 2022

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