By JOE APU
THE dark days of threats of FIFA ban dangling on Nigeria are back and this time in full swing as Ambassador Chris Giwa is bent on actualising the mandate and verdict of a Federal High Court in Jos which allegedly sacked the Amaju Pinnick led board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Since the Super Eagles failed in their bid to qualify for the AFCON 2017 billed for Gabon, the Pinnick led board of the NFF has not known peace with many disappointed fans calling for his resignation.
Pinnick ruled out the possibility of resigning from his role as Nigeria Football Federation president following the Super Eagles’ inability to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and insists his administration has not fared badly.
“I was elected by the Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation for a four-year team and I don’t see why I should be asked to resign with over two years to serve,” said Pinnick.
“With all due respect, I don’t think we have done badly in these past one and half years that we have been in office and I have a four-year mandate which I intend to see through. When we came in we had a case running for nine months and this affected us.
“In between we won Fifa Under 17 World Cup, we won the Africa Women’s Championship and we also qualified for the women’ s Under 17 and U20 World Cups coming up this year. I think we have achieved. Again we have very young Super Eagles players that should be the future of the game in the country.”
While the debate for his resignation continued, out of the blues came the bomb shell from a Federal High Court in Jos, the Plateau State capital sacking his board. A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, sacked the executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation led by its president, Amaju Pinnick, after nullifying the September 30, 2014 election, which brought them into the office.
Justice Musa Kurya of the court, restored and relisted the earlier withdrawn case file by the plaintiffs, Senator Obinna Ogba and Yahaya Adama, after both men had approached the court to relist the case against the Nigeria Football Federation.
The judge also ruled that the election of August 26, 2014 remained valid, hence identifying Chris Giwa as the president of the NFF. In October 2014, the same Federal High Court sitting before Justice Ambrose Allagoa had ruled against the election that brought the Pinnick-led board into the federation were not recognised.
It would be recalled that Giwa had withdrawn the case in October 2014 and headed for the Court of Arbitration for Sports, which threw out their case. Justice Kurya, having upheld all the previous reliefs of the plaintiffs, also ruled that Giwa should take charge as president of the football federation pending the final determination of the suit. The Pinnick-led board in a swift reaction filed an appeal and a stay-of-execution against the decision of the Federal High Court, Jos.
The NFF in a statement from the first vice-president, Seyi Akinwunmi, described the situation as a sad one, adding that the board was still in control.
Before the emergency congress of the NFF, Akinwunmi was quoted as say: “We have filed for stay-of-execution and that means the status quo remains and anything done is done at the actors’ peril. I can assure football –loving Nigerians that there is no reason to panic as we are in full charge and there is no trouble whatsoever. There is no order for the Giwa group to take over the Glass House. In fact many of his so called board members have called to dissociate themselves from the matter,” he said.
Stakeholders in Nigerian football while baring their minds are of the view that Nigeria must as a matter of urgency learn to understand the workings and conditions of FIFA. FIFA and CAF instructor, Paul Bassey pointed out that most Nigerians are just being naïve about FIFA. According to him, FIFA does not invite anyone to join it. “Countries of their own volition decides their membership of FIFA and agree that they would abide by the rules governing the body. Football issues are not settled in court because FIFA has its settlement channels. The sooner we all understand this, the better for our football.
“Giwa should be called to order or we risk FIFA sanctions. The sports minister as far as I’m concerned is misinformed and that aside, the problem is also with the incessant change of ministers who most times have no inkling to sports. It would benefit us as a nation if we take heed to sort issues out of civil courts.
For Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Nigeria cannot at this time afford to risk FIFA’s ban. Anything that would lead to FIFA hammer failing on us should be avoided at all cost.
“In my opinion, Pinnick was duly elected as President of the Nigeria Football Federation at the Congress held in Asaba, Delta State and Giwa was not. Giwa had withdrawn his case when he found out he had no case, his case was thrown out in FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS. “I don’t understand why Giwa wants to drag our football backwards. He should wait for Pinnick to finish his term and then he can aspire to lead the NFF.”
FIFA’s security officer for Nigeria, ACP Gideon Akinsola (Rtd) is of the view that a FIFA ban will spell doom for Nigeria pointing out that the best thing that can happen now is a quick resolution of the crisis.
“Sincerely, Nigeria can’t afford FIFA’s ban and the best thing is for us to avoid anything that would drag us that way. Nigeria has escaped the FIFA hammer on several occasions and I think the best way out is for the case to be resolved amicably and without rancor. A ban now will make nonsense of the several qualifications Nigerian team already have and bring the efforts of the players to nought because FIFA will sanction all our teams from participating in all her events.
“Worst still is the fact that many Nigerian youths would be thrown into the job market as well as hammer our participation in the 2018 World Cup. We can’t all be correct at the same time because we’re humans but we learn from our mistakes and move on. We can’t afford to remain in one place and cry wolf all the time. Pinnick is human and can make mistakes. That does not mean he should he sacked. I call on Pinnick to call Giwa to a round table in the common interest of Nigeria for us to forge ahead.”
Meanwhile against the backdrop of the crisis, the NFF has moved for reforms by throwing its doors open to all Nigerians to contest her future elections. The emergency extra ordinary congress called Wednesday in Abuja opted to suspend a clause that makes only congress members eligible for elections.
The communiqué released after the Abuja meeting read in part: “Following a passionate appeal by the Executive Committee, the clause adopted at the 71st NFF General Assembly held in Abuja on 16th December 2015, aimed at ensuring and guaranteeing professionalism in the administration of football but misinterpreted as barring non-members of the Congress from contesting for positions on the NFF Executive Committee was suspended pending ratification at the next NFF General Assembly. For the avoidance of doubt the congress further affirmed that all eligible and qualified persons under the NFF statutes are eligible to contest elections.”
