President Buhari has directed the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) to immediately start the process that will lead to elections into its executive committee at the expiration of the current administration in September.
He also directed that the instrument of football administration in the country, the NFF Statutes, be changed to include other stakeholders, who had earlier been disenfranchised or denied equal representation in the NFF congress.
According to a letter issued on June 17 and addressed to NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and signed by Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, Buhari, who reinforced the Federal Government’s support for football development in the country, urged the leadership of the NFF to ensure that the amended statutes reflect the national yearnings, aspirations, and peculiarities of Nigeria as a sovereign nation while aligning with the principles and objectives of football as set by the world soccer governing body, FIFA.
Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, a former chairman of the Gombe State Football Association has to plead to interested persons eyeing the NFF presidency in the September elections to exercise restraint.
About five aspirants, comprising one administrator and former Nigeria internationals, have so far indicated an interest in the NFF top job.
He said, “I think it is rather too early for such declaration to be made by anyone yet. There is the issue of the statute that has not been sorted while the NFF Congress will still have to seat and draw out the electoral guidelines as well as announce the election date.”
“Whatever anyone is doing at this time with regard to the election is hasty and it cannot amount to anything tangible at least for now,” according to Gombe.
There are reports that the former Gombe FA chairman has been encouraged by some football stakeholders, including politicians, civil servants, diplomats, and key figures in Corporate Nigeria to declare interest in the NFF top job.
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