By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
It is no longer news that the much-awaited 2022 Elective Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which has produced a new president of the federation has come and gone.
It’s also not news anymore that Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusua, the Chairman of Zamfara Football Association who served as the Chairman of FA Chairmen in the immediate past NFF Executive Committee led by Amaju Pinnick, won the election to lead Nigeria football in the next four years in the first instant.
He garnered a total of 39 votes at the end of a run-off election between him and former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Pastor Peterside Idah who got a paltry one vote. Ex-NFF Vice Presidents- Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko had withdrawn from the run-off after securing 12 votes and 6 votes respectively in the first ballot.
Gusau who has since been sworn in as the substantive NFF President in Benin City, Edo state capital where the 2022 NFF Elective Congress took place will have to work with only the 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the only person representing the South-East geopolitical zone in the Executive Committee.
This is even as the remaining five geo-political zones including the North West where the new NFF President hails from produced two Executive Committee members each.
Other zones that produced two Executive Committee members are North Central, North East, South West and South South respectively.
Anyansi-Agwu, a long-term Chairman of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, swept to the 1st Vice President position by trashing Senator Obinna Ogba (Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports Development) by 23 votes to 8.
However, misfortune befell all those jostling to pick the second Executive Committee slot for the South East bite the dust after Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Kano) had an easy ride picking a slot from the North West without any opposition.
Contestants for the Executive Committee slots position in Benin City from the South East were Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha (Imo), Pastor Emeka Inyama (Abia),
Chikelue Iloenyosi (Anambra), Jude Obikwelu (Anambra) and Pascal Karibe Ojigwe (Abia).
Sadly, the above contestants returned home empty-handed after it was discovered that one more slot for the South East will be surplus to requirement because the North West had earlier produced two Executive Committee members in President Gusua and Inuwa.
Earlier, the three presidential candidates from the South East, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulem (Imo), Dr. Christian Emeruwa (Abia) and Marcellinus Anyanwu (Imo) were not so lucky as the Chairmen of Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra State Football Associations who have voting rights failed to cast even one vote for Dr. Emeruwa who was the South East sole candidate on the ballot after Mazi Uchegbulem chickened out of the race at the last minute.
With the South East unable to produce two Executive Committee members in Benin City and having clinched the post of 1st Vice President, the zone has shot itself in the leg and will have to lick its wound until 2026 when another opportunity will present itself.
Meanwhile, other members of the NFF Executive Committee are Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh from North Central was elected unopposed for the position of Chairman of Chairmen; Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen was elected from the North Central zone, edging incumbent Alhaji Mohammed Alkali by 22 votes to 19 in a run-off, just as incumbent Babagana Kalli and newman Timothy Henman Magaji succeeded in the North-East race.
Rt. Hon. Essien Udofot and Ms Aisha Falode won the two seats available from the South-South after an interesting run-off saw Essien taking 19 votes to Falode’s 13, with first-round leader Poubeni Ogun ejected with 7 votes.
Also, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi made a return to the NFF Board from the South West just as Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi retained his seat.
Dele-Ajayi and Majekodunmi earned 12 votes each in the run-off, with Gafar Liameed third with 7 votes and Afolabi Taiwo Olugbenga in fourth place with 4 votes.
The momentous event that lasted well into the night was witnessed by three officials of world football-governing body, FIFA: Gelson Fernandes, Solomon Mudege and Ahmad Mohamed Mukhtar Harraz.Mr. Felix Majani was the eye of the Confederation of African Football.
Alhaji Mohammed Baba Abdullahi represented the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu declared the event open.
