The Chairman House Committee on Sports, Godfrey Ali Gaiya, has described as timely and crucial, President Goodluck Jonathan’s intervention in the lingering crises of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Gaiya who said this in Abuja on Thursday praised President Jonathan for finding time in his tight schedule to attend to football matters and consequently advised aggrieved parties to desist from taking football matters to civil court to avoid embarrassment in the future.
“I think we can only say thank you to our President for finding time to meet with the aggrieved parties and consequently the withdrawal of the Jos court case to avoid the FIFA ban which was imminent. But my advice is that we should avoid this kind of court scenario in future because it is not good for our reputation in the international community.”
Factional leader of the NFF, Chris Giwa, was persuaded by President Goodluck Jonathan during a meeting which also had the other NFF president, Amaju Pinnick in attendance, on Tuesday night to withdraw the court case.
Consequently, Giwa on Thursday informed the Jos based High Court he no longer wished to continue the case.
Meanwhile, Gaiya who has declared his intention to return to the house in 2015 as he braises up for election in his constituency of Jaba/Zangon Kafat, in Kaduna state, also backed President Jonathan on his decision to have coach Stephen Keshi returned as the Super Eagles head coach.
“Mr. President has asked that Keshi be reinstated and I think it’s in the best interest of the country.” Gaiya who recently turned 50 years, concluded.
Reports have it that President Jonathan at the meeting with the two factional presidents of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa, on Wednesday night asked that Keshi be reinstated.
