Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mike Okeke Umeh, at the weekend gave reasons for the solid support that the South East in its entirety is lending to NFF President, Aminu Maigari to go for a second term.
Speaking in Lagos, Umeh praised Maigari’s easy-going style that has given everyone in the football sector a sense of belonging, opened the tap of several successes on and off the field and brought the Nigeria football family under one big umbrella.
“It is impossible for anyone not to fall in love with Maigari’s style. The man has toed the wise line all along and his style has wooed even avowed critics of the administration. And to cap it all, there have been tremendous accomplishments on and off the field of play that has made his the most successful football administration in the country.
“His style allows everyone with good ideas to contribute. He is not dictatorial, even as he insists on diligence, commitment and hard work. And he places national interest above all.”
No head of Nigeria’s football governing authority has been handed a second term since Sunday Dankaro left office in 1981, but Umeh, a former Team Manager of the Senior National Team, insists that continuity and stability have been the key words for strong football federations and confederations over the decades.
“The President of CAF, Issa Hayatou has been in office for 26 years. Mr. Sepp Blatter has been President of FIFA for 16 years, after being Secretary General for 17 years. The Senior Vice President of FIFA, Mr. Julio Grondona has been President of Argentine FA for several decades. And we all remember that Mr. Joao Havelange was President of FIFA for 24 years. Let us give Maigari one more term to consolidate on his achievements.”
Umeh is the leader the South East Zone that on Tuesday passed a vote of confidence on the Maigari administration, at its summit held in Umuahia, capital of Abia State. At that summit were two other members of the NFF Executive Committee, Emeka Inyama and Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the Football Associations of Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States.
The confidence vote in the South East followed hot on the heels of that of the South West, which was passed at a meeting in Lagos on Monday. NFF President, Aminu Maigari, was at both meetings.
