NEW SCANDALS BREWING IN THE HOUSE OF FOOTBRAWL

NFF boss Aminu Maigari...cooking new troubles

As the news of Globacom losing the open bid for the title sponsorship of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) hits the public domain, it was obvious that there was wild jubilation in the clubs, the final beneficiaries of the exercise and the ultimate organ of authority being the Congress. I phoned six of the club managers who expressed serious relieve from “the irresponsibility of Glo” as one of them described the Nigerian telecommunication giant.

MYOPIC NFF: However, in a statement on Friday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which considered itself as “the supreme authority for all matters relating to football in the country”, described as “unacceptable” the decision by the NPL board to go contrary to the standard norms and protocols which such an issue demanded, insisting that the matter could have benefitted from the Federation’s input and advice.

The NFF also observed that owing to the unresolved leadership issues at the Nigeria Premier League, on which the Federation is expected to make a pronouncement soon, it would have been advisable for the NPL to defer matters involving long-term sponsorship relationships/agreements/deals with third parties, until the NFF’s decision on the leadership question.
The Federation went ahead to express strong reservations about the announcement of a long-term relationship with a corporate body by a leadership that still has issues around its neck, saying propriety has been sacrificed.

ISSUES FOR RESOLUTION:

Where was this same NFF when the league started without a sponsor? Has Globacom added any value to the sponsorship they had in the last four years? Did the NPL gain from the Globacom sponsorship in the last four years? Has Globacom paid fully, as a responsible corporate citizen, for the last sponsorship? Was it not the same Globacom NPL took to court for allegedly not behaving responsibly? Where was NFF’s input and advice all these while? Unconfirmed reports say some men in the NFF got N50m from Glo to ensure MTN does not finally emerge. Is it true, Maigari and NFF?

LEADERSHIP OF THE NPL: It is sad that the NFF with it’s tainted election which is still subject of contention both in Nigeria (by Jiti Ogunye and Ray Nnaji) and in Switzerland (by Olusegun Odegbami) is leaving the log in its eyes and is trying to over write the Congress of the NPL.

Between the NFF and the Congress of the NPL, which is superior in matters of the league? This is a simple question that FIFA has for so long resolved in favour of the Congress. So where did the NFF think they will get the issue resolved because the NFF board apart from messing itself up again, securing more court cases, and further making the game face disrepute because of her members’ selfish interests, should have left Owumi alone.

Is Owumi wanted by the Congress of the league? Yes. Why is the NFF’s interest higher and bigger than the club owners? If there is a new election today, what is the purpose to be achieved? Trouble dey sleep, yanga go wake am. The outcome will surely blow more evil, mark my words!

NEW SCANDALS: I have been on an investigation that has revealed some dirty unforgiveable and God-damned secrets in the Glass House. A very top official therein parading a fake certificate with which he has repeatedly ‘qualified’ to sit on the Board.

There is also the cases of some people whose ‘dirty’ moral characters is so questionable that they should honourably resign lest in the new year be forced to dishonourably resign. Watch out! Revelations!