The alleged threats to the life of the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji, may not be unconnected to the very fierce battle for the control of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) this reporter can report with authority.
The crises that has plagued the country's football led to a recent suspension of the nation by the world soccer governing body FIFA.
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| Ekeji...so it is! |
As the suspension was being lifted by FIFA, Dr Ekeji cried out that unknown callers had threatened to assassinate him unless he quit his position as director general of the sports commission. "Dr. Patrick Ekeji, in the last few days, has received several calls from unknown callers. Calls are made to Dr. Ekeji at odd hours telling to resign or he will be assassinated," said Olukayode Thomas, special assistant on media to the Minister of Sports Ibrahim Bio.
NFF POLITICS:
The Nigeria Football Association is a parastatal under the National Sports Commission. By virtue of decree 101 she gets appropriation from the National Assembly to fund its activities every fiscal year. Asides from government funding, the NFF has a number sponsorship deals with different corporate organisations which nets about N1.2billion per annum according to the immediate past Vice President, Obinna Ogba. She also enjoys annual grants from FIFA.
The battle to be in control of these funds, our investigation has revealed is responsible for the entire battle that is gripping the football industry. Sports Minister, Ibrahim Isa Bio, once told the football congress before the election which the Federal High Court nullified “Adamu and Ekeji, it is the fight between the two of you that is the root of this problems.”
The issue is that those in government (the Sports Ministry/NSC) always want their men on the Board so that they can indirectly influence decisions including how the funds are spent.
Dr Amos Adamu, Ekeji’s immediate past boss, who is made a synonym to football in the country wanted his men in place. He singlehandedly planted the last Board led by Abdullahi Lulu. The Lulu team having been groomed wanted to be their own men.
Dr Amos Adamu, Ekeji’s immediate past boss, who is made a synonym to football in the country wanted his men in place. He singlehandedly planted the last Board led by Abdullahi Lulu. The Lulu team having been groomed wanted to be their own men.
It is no surprise they have resorted to death threats.
TRADITION:
At least, it is open facts that officials in the NSC had always connived with their foot soldiers at the NFF to deliberately under-declare funds released by the Federal Government and sponsorship fees for the various brands of the national soccer team.
At least, it is open facts that officials in the NSC had always connived with their foot soldiers at the NFF to deliberately under-declare funds released by the Federal Government and sponsorship fees for the various brands of the national soccer team.
If there was no other issue of note to quickly point to, we remember and know that the last conflict between the NSC and NFA on one hand with the NPL then led by Oyuiki Obaseki was due to the sharing formular adopted in the title sponsorship fund of the league. It was alleged that only half of the money paid by Globacom was declared.
Nigerian witnessed the way funds for our World Cup engagement was said to have been managed. N900 million from government, $8 million dollars from FIFA and others not disclosed. What happens to a cheap $238,000 that disappeared from the coffers of the NFA?
DEATH THREATS AND FOOTBALL:
It would be recalled that immediately this reporter exposed the dirty histories and personalities governing Nigerian football, I got two calls threatening me with death if I do not back out. The second recent threat came when I exposed the latest sex scandal in the same NFA. That Ekeji is receiving death threats is no surprise. It is synonymous with our football.
Afterall, did Alhaji Abdullahi Lulu not tell his staffers that, “I will return back for another four years. I know those who are working against us. I will CRUSH all of them.”
Jide, for those of us strange to administration of soccer, over one billion naira for soccer every year as you mentioned is a big money. If I have N5m every year for my sports for just 5 years, it will be envy for all Nigerians. But I tell you, it doesn’t even appear soccer have one billion kobo from all we could see on the ground. What have kept the Nigerian football have been raw talents and self efforts of players. The billion naira you mentioned was not put into development. Given that they we hear some inaudible noise here and there. I do not expect changes in the way we run soccer or sports in Nigeria. We need someone who is in corruptible that will shake the system to its root and such a person will also be given room to work by the presidency. He will not be there because of money. With such a person, a new foundation for sports will be laid and that N1 billon will go to appropriate places. There is therefore need for political will on the part of the president.
ReplyDeleteWhen people come to office, they come with brilliant ideas and high spirit. It seems there is a demon in the sports commission that sits to ensure that performance is zero. That demon also ensures that saying will not match actions. The new Minister for Sports, Ibrahim Biu at a meeting when he first came in promised to be a Minister for Sports and not for football. He has swallowed his words. All sports were asked to submit briefs on their sports, up till now nothing came out of that exercise.