Nigeria Football Federation plunged further into turmoil yesterday when an Extra-Ordinary General Assembly of Nigeria Football Federation consisting of States Football Association chairmen and other representatives, ‘unanimously’ voted to end the tenure of the Aminu Maigari led board.
Also all management staff and league organizing committees were sacked by the general assembly that was held at the Bolingo Hotel in Abuja. It was gathered that 31 out of the 44 potential voting members unanimously took the decision to oust the Maigari led board, which only on Thursday, was restrained from carry out its functions by a high court sitting in Jos. That moved was frowned at by the world soccer governing body, FIFA and it subsequently gave the sports minister Tammy Danagogo till Tuesday to reverse the trend or Nigeria will be thrown out of world football.
Government officials yesterday were hopeful that the move by the general assembly will negate any untoward consequence for the country since it was now a purely football matter and no government interference. But a careful study of the deliberations yesterday, showed that the congress was acting the script of the sports ministry, it cannot be absolved from the unfolding drama. A communiqué signed by Obinna Ogba expressed appreciation to the President, Goodluck Jonathan for his support for Nigeria Football and also the Super Eagles for their “good” outing in Brazil 2014. But the communiqué descended on the Maigari board.
“Congress bemoaned the unfortunate incident of the international embarrassment caused the Nigeria nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, by failure of the Aminu Maigari –led NFF to fully and firmly resolve issues of finance with the Super Eagles ahead of the championship.
“Congress accused the Maigari administration of shortchanging grassroots development by failure to regularly avail State Football Associations of annual grant, and abuse of NFF Statutes in its constitution of NFF Electoral Committee, by altering the list of persons approved by the Congress at the 2013 General Assembly in Warri, Delta State, and inaugurating a different Committee.
“Congress unanimously endorsed the dissolution of the Maigari led board and immediate termination of all management staff. All the boards of the leagues; national league, women league and nationwide league have been dissolved,” said the communiqué.
It announced that Mr. Lawrence Katken will act as secretary-general of the NFF until a substantive secretary-general is appointed. Also all secretaries of the league bodies will coordinate the activities of the leagues and report to the acting secretary-general.
Dr. Danagogo who earlier addressed the congress assured that the issues will be amicably settled adding that he did not envisage any sanction from the world soccer governing body.
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/states-fa-chairmen-dissolve-nff/#sthash.H6f5ke1e.dpuf