A cross section of leading political figures, members of Nigeria football’s Congress and key stakeholders have given kudos to the House of Representatives for its resolutions of last week on the leadership ‘crisis’ in the Nigeria Football Federation.
At an executive session on Wednesday, the Parliament asked the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Federal Government to continue to recognize, support and give protection to the Nigeria Football Federation under the presidency of Amaju Melvin Pinnick, urged the Federal Government and all security agencies to call Giwa and his group to order to ensure that Nigeria football does not continue to suffer and/or incur the wrath of FIFA, and also resolved that the Inspector –General of Police and all other security agencies shall ensure that whosoever creates problem in NFF or Nigeria football should be apprehended and prosecuted accordingly.
While at the Glass House to commiserate with the NFF over the deaths of coaching legends Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Joseph Obinna Ogba preached peace, saying the resolutions of the House are in order.
Former Sports Minister, Hon. Bala Bawa Ka’oje told thenff.com on Tuesday that the resolutions are on point. “The House of Reps’ resolutions are in order. The Giwa people should embrace dialogue, as we want peace in our football. Further distractions can earn us a FIFA ban and nobody wants that.”
Former NFF General Secretary, and a former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sani Ahmed Toro, said: “It is a very good development; I hope the Senate will follow suit. Some people believe in foisting crises and they should be called to order.
“However, I believe we need a permanent solution to all these crises. The Minister (of Youth and Sports) should release the report of the Ibrahim Galadima committee and adopt same. I also believe the National Assembly should work to speedily pass the FIFA Statutes in order to satisfy those saying the Statutes should be ‘domesticated’.”
President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Mr. Bitrus Bewarang said the House has done a wonderful job. “The simulated crisis had dragged for too long and Nigeria football had been the worse for it. I am very happy about the resolutions. I witnessed the charade at Chida Hotel on 26th August 2014 before I stormed out of the place in annoyance. Giwa did not win any election.”
In the same vein, President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Tade Azeez said: “We are happy that the National Assembly has seen reason with the popular clamour for peace and aligned with the position of the NFF Congress. We appreciate the genuineness in their cause, and their charge to the Inspector –General and other security agencies to protect the Glass House is heartwarming. The NFF and the NFF Congress will work hard for the game’s development in other not to disappoint them.”
Chairmen of State FAs, Mohammed Nasir Saidu (Sokoto/North-West), Chidi Ofo Okenwa (Enugu/South-East), Musa Duhu (Adamawa/North East), James Odeniran (Oyo/South-West), Frank Ilaboya (Edo/South-South) and Mohammed Alkali (Nasarawa/North-Central) also voiced their strong support for the House’s decision.
Saidu: “The House did the right thing. A resolution of the House is quite strong and we are happy with their decision. It is wrong for anyone who does not have a mandate to be going about parading himself.”
Ilaboya: “To me, the resolutions are a reflection of the calibre of people we have in the National Assembly. Their action was spot-on, and the quality of the resolutions is not in dispute. It was painstakingly done, and posterity will not forget them for rising to the occasion when the chips were down.”
Odeniran: “Every soccer –loving Nigerian will appreciate the resolutions for the sincerity embedded within. If we truly want football to develop, we need peace. We should avoid unnecessary distractions. The Congress appreciates the action of the House of Reps. It is a step in the right direction.”
Chidi Ofo Okenwa: “I’m glad that the National Assembly is in tune with the dynamics of association football. Their decision is an excellent one and we stand challenged to now push the Amaju Pinnick administration to work hard in developing the game, to get us back to our rightful place in world football. Nigeria football had been the worse for it while the distractions lasted.”
Musa Duhu: “The resolutions are good and in line with the thinking of the Congress. The entire Congress, without any exception, is behind President Amaju Pinnick, and the House of Reps has done the correct thing.”
Alkali: “The resolutions are in line with national interest and I must commend the House. They did a marvelous work and the NFF Congress is proud of their resolutions.”
