By Daily Sports on August 1, 2016

Readers of this weekly column have been on my neck on why I have not written on the outburst of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) first Vice President and Lagos State Football Association Chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi’s revelation that lesbianism has been the major impediment for the rapid growth of Women football in the country. I did promise earlier I will comment on it due to its importance.

Truly, it came like a thunderbolt as many were scandalised that such indignation would come from Akinwunmi when he was guest of Oyo State Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN). He made the sweeping statement probably without knowing the far reaching implications.

He was emphatic about the cause of the under development of Women Football in Nigeria. He vividly pointed accusing fingers on the large activities of lesbianism among the players. Though, he has denied ever making such statement, however, Nigerians especially the women folk took on Akinwunmi head-on.

In short, the women were livid with anger that reached high heavens. They called Akinwunmi names. The number two man in NFF became frightened and came begging, analysts fingered his prompt serial denials was the reason the Oyo State SWAN Chairman jump into his refutation pool.

For the records, Seyi Akinwunmi is a Lawyer and Insolvency Practitioner. He graduated from the University of Lagos. His professional goal includes being an international Fellow of Insolvency not football. His experience includes advising and acting as consultant for major local and international financial institutions including the World Bank; Adviser on the largest liquidation in Nigeria and also on one of the largest receiverships in Nigeria. He is currently acting as liquidator of a large telecommunications support company with divisions in five different countries and two continents.

His areas of specialization include restructuring of bankrupt and troubled businesses, restructuring of debts; Advising Insolvency Practitioners; Negotiating and documenting syndicated loans; Legal advice to local and international banks on a series of financing and refinancing schemes.

He has been with the Law Event Limited since January 2007 till date, (9 years and 7 months).

He oversees the affairs of this total support service company for the legal industry in Nigeria, the first of its kind in the country. He also gets involved in event management for the legal environment, staffing and human resource development for the legal environment and training of legal practitioners in particular young Lawyers, local and international itinerary management for lawyers.

That is the curriculum vitae of the man that holds an important position in our football federation. A green horn in all its ramifications in football administration until former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, his close chum dusted him up to become Lagos State FA boss with an experience that is not enough to see him where he has found himself today. The force that brought him to football was behind his slot in NFF.

The curriculum vitae never showed any trace of Akinwunmi in any sports either as a participant or administrator of any kind. It is the way Nigeria is structured; you can throw up your friend or relation to hold any high office without any background.

You can agree that Seyi was a nobody in football, which is why he indulges in speaking on drop of hat in every football matter. His contributions have been nothing but controversial.

My worry remains that after steering the hornet’s nest, he never stood by it, and sadly, he takes delight in denials. The subject under discourse is recent. From his CV, it is obvious where his interest and passion is. He does not need to tell us that he has no appetite for the game that has brought fortune and fame to him. He never pretends about it either.

There are so many Akinwunmis everywhere in the polity ‘learning’ the tenets of where they are from the roof top instead of the other way round.

Shamefully, his widely reported lesbianism outrage has been swept away and he has been working freely on the streets ever since. Look at this, the first Vice-President of NFF says lesbianism is killing Nigeria Women football. The headline that caught my attention was from Punch of Monday, June13, 2016; Lead Story on page 57: Lesbianism Killing Female Football—NFF Vice President

He spoke to newsmen in Ibadan; Akinwunmi said Nigeria’s Women Football is at its lowest and blamed lesbianism for it. He said this while answering questions on SWAN personality programme Hot Seat. According to him Sepp Blatter, former FIFA President assures NFF of collaboration, he further revealed.

While suggesting a total overhaul of Women Football system in the country, Akinwunmi added many problems were being overlooked while the game nosedives.

He claimed his passion for Women Football is so great as it is for the grassroots football. It costs more and returns less. There are fewer players’ and less interest in Women Football than men football. But we have no excuse.

He was quoted as saying “Lesbianism kills teams. People are afraid to talk about it. The coaches take advantage of the girls, so there are so much more to build in Women Football. Last year, l think, the most problematic person to the Chairperson of the Women League was Seyi Akinwunmi.”

He launched several attacks just to ensure things work accordingly. ‘I decided that look, if it’s difficult for you, let us show you how it is done.’

Akinwunmi added in Lagos, that the second year would be dedicated to Women Football, saying that it would involve mentorship programme.

“I took a historical look at countries and teams which have had success in this category, they started the way we also started, and it was difficult for them in the beginning as well because there were no sponsors and other problems,” he insists. I believe after going through Akinwumi’s statement on lesbianism in Women Football in Nigeria and how it has retarded its development you must have jumped up for joy like me that at last the person that will hand over the culprits of this act to the country’s security agencies is finally here. Na lie!

Despite that he has denied ever saying so, an afterthought due to intense criticisms that followed his unguided outburst, he still has more information - that coaches took advantage of the girls also.

As if that was not ample, he revealed how he was a pin on neck of the very suave, hardworking and disarmingly, unassuming immediate past Chairperson of the Nigeria Women League, Chief Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma. NFF bigwigs are yet to tell Nigerians why election for the League is still put on hold contrary to its rules. It is one of the absurd going on.

What still beat the imagination of curious and keen followers of Women Football in the country remain why the security agencies have not called Akinwunmi for useful insights into this. Truth is that in other civilised climes, he ought to have been guest of the country’s security operatives.

My questions: Why has it taken the security agents this long to invite him to reveal more on all he knows on lesbianism in Women Football in the country?

Is it not curious that a weighty assertion of that nature from a person of Akinwunmi’s status in our apex football governing body would be treated with such glibness thus far?

Is it not ridiculous that information on a 14-year imprisonment offence like lesbianism was swept under the carpet?

Why is he walking the streets of Abuja freely? This action smacks of deliberate conspiracy.

After giving depth clue on lesbianism in our Women Football, what else do relevant authorities need to burst this so that the game may excel in the nation?

Where is Women Football heading to if Akinwunmi’s outrage is left to fizzle into the thin air as it seems going.

Let me be honest with you that when I read it, I never doubted because it is widely alleged that the man is known for speaking from both sides of his mouth. I immediately lost appetite as my stomach also turned. I asked to nobody else, where are the security agents. I again, said to no person that now we have gotten into the root of why the game steadily declines.

On a second thought, I told myself that all may be cover up of ineptitude of the NFF on Women Football. The body actually neglected the game to its foundation. But Akinwunmi’s information must not be left unattended. He knows who and who that are involved and the best remains to bring him on to help solve it. Yes, only then we can be satisfied that he is not being shielded. Meanwhile, we wait.

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 1, 2016

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