By Augustine Kalu on January 1, 2017

Prince Vincent Okumagba, the Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), has lampooned the President General of Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club (NFOSSC), Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, accusing of him being the brain behind the intractable crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Supporters Club for years.

According to Okumagba, it is Ladipo who has been on the scene for many years without wanting to relinquish power that is the one causing the crisis in the club which is the rallying point for Nigerians for mobilising support for the national team.

Okumagba explained that the country’s football governing body, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Sports Ministry in a bid to ensure that peace is restored to the club; summoned the two sides in the crisis to a peace meeting in Abuja, where it was resolved that election should be conducted to elect officers of the club and December 10th was fixed for the election.

Okumagba said as principled individual who works with the law and at the same time respects constituted authority proceeded to Abuja for the election and that election took place where he emerged as the National Chairman of the club; but was shocked to hear that another election was purported to have taken place in Lagos contrary to the agreement reached with the Sports Ministry and the NFF.

Okumagba stated this while fielding questions on a live sports programme on Africa Independent Television, Master Sports yesterday.

“You are very correct when you said that we are bedeviled with a lot of crises. There have been crises in club in the past few years, especially since 2012 when we couldn’t have our election. But thankfully, the NFF wadded in about a couple of months ago, and we signed a communiqué to the fact that election will be held on 10th of December.

“And as a follow up to that communiqué, we were given another letter to effect that the election venue will be in Abuja and because we couldn’t have election in 2012 all because of the crisis, intimidation and all of that, we agreed to go to Abuja. And don’t also forget that our office in Lagos has been under lock and key by the Commissioner of Police.

“So, the only other office we have is the office in Abuja, at the national stadium. And so, when the NFF wrote to us that we should come to Abuja for election we gladly agreed. We went to Abuja and the election was conducted, I emerged as the National Chairman, and some other officers of the club.

“And so, I was surprised when I began to hear that there was another election in Lagos. Of course, I don’t know what kind of election they did in Lagos. May be it was state election and if it was state election it then means that they have changed Lagos to a chapter,” Okumagba declared.

Speaking further, he denied being responsible for the crisis rocking the club saying those who have been there who don’t want to relinquish power that are responsible. He queried the rationale behind Ladipo calling for Congress when he the national chairman is there and who has been empowered by the constitution of the club to do so.

“I am a very principled person. And for every association to thrive, you must respect the constitution of that association. I work by the constitution. I don’t care whoever says he is the ‘Lord of the Ring’. I don’t want to know about that. As long as I am in line with the constitution of the club; I think I am fine!

“The constitution empowers the chairman to be in control of the club and that is what I try to do. But you know the people that have been there, Dr. Ladipo that has been there for so many years doesn’t want to leave powers, and so he was the one causing the crisis in the club.

“How can Dr. Ladipo call for a Congress of the Club when the national chairman is there? Okumagba queried. I believe that in a short while may be in 2017 we will be able look for a better year for Nigerian football.”

•Photo shows Prince Vincent Okumagba

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 1, 2017

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