By Gracious Akujobi Apparently embarrassed by the poor outing of Kano Pillars, Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League, Kano State Government on Monday sacked the board and management of the club.
Consequently, a new board and management have been reconstituted. The Special Adviser to the Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso on Sports Development, Ahmad Shuaibu Gara-Gombe stated this while briefing newsmen.
According to him, the new board was reconstituted following the failure of the last board to meet the state government’s expectation.
Pillars lost 3-4 0n aggregate even though they defeated the visiting AS Vita of DR Congo 2-1 last weekend in Kano. They had lost 1-3 when they visited their opponent at home.
Gara-Gombe, accused the last board of insubordination to constituted authority, lack of accountability and prudent management of public resources as well as lack of cooperation and synergy among the members.
He said that other problems noticed in the last board was poor quality of technical officials, adding that composition of both management of the club and board without clearly spelt out demarcation of reasonability and the condition of service.
The SA said that the new board of directors of the club are, Ibrahim Haruna as chairman, Garba Nuhu Danburan, vice chairman, Aminu Dan Amo, Lawan Adda’u, Sabo Abdullahi Kofar Mata, Bashir Muazu, Abubakar Naziru Aminu, Kabiru Ali Dawaki, Nasiru Garba Bichi and Garba Umar to server as members.
The new management committee of the board are Umar Babangida Muhmad as general manager, Kabiru Baleria, team manage, Salisu Yaro, general coordinator, Okey Emordi, technical adviser, Dr. Ibn Garba Idris, medical officer, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa, media officer, Muhammad I Abba, licensing officer, CSP Shuaibu Bello, chief security officer, Shehu Aliyu, finance officer, Habibu Zubairu, kit manager, Surajo Tudun Wada to serve as secretary.
However, the SA said that the state government has directed the state accountant general to provide N1million to the LMC as part of its guideline to all premier clubs.
Gara said that the state government has also approved the payment of all outstanding liability of the club with corporate affairs commission.
Meanwhile, the erstwhile Chairman of Board of Kano Pillars, Abba Yola says his removal did not come as a surprise to him as he remains grateful for the opportunity he had to serve.
In a release made available to Prompt News Online, Yola says he sees his removal as a call to higher responsibility as he is ready to serve his state and his nation at any given time.
“The news of the dissolution of the Kano pillars football club board that I served as the chairman today in Kano to me did not come as a surprise but rather I will thank the State governor Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for given us the opportunity to serve the State”
The former national sports commission top official however says he will not join issues with those who said their removal was as a result of non-performance
“At no level did we as a board not act responsibly to the supervising ministry or government authority that we were answerable to. I see it as a call to higher responsibility as I will ever be ready to serve my state and the nation at any given time.
“To put the record straight though I will not like to join issues with those that made the announcement, the record of our performance within the period we served is there for all to see, winning the league shield as well as maintaining the club’s position in the nation soccer scene is one thing that we were mandated to do and such we have achieved”
Prompt News recalls that Abba Yola-led board last year was able to open a new door of sponsorship for the club with deals with telecommunication giant Globalcom worth millions of Naira as well as signing a Memorandum of Understanding for sponsorship for Kano Pillars in services, cash and kind. This gave rise to Gsports to bring in Kappa to kit the club running into millions of Naira.
“On my part as the leader of the board we gave in our best and we will allow posterity to do the judgement on any wrong doings as claimed in the reason for the dissolution of the board” he said.
Yola, congratulated the new board and wish members the best in all their endeavours.
