Nigeria Moves To Avoid FIFA Suspension
Contrary to earlier reports, world football governing body,
FIFA, may not afterall ban Nigeria over the sack of the board of the
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari.
P.M.NEWS reports that with less than 24 hours before the ultimatum giving by FIFA to Nigerian authorities to reinstate the sacked NFF board led by Maigari, efforts are being made by the National Sports Commission, NSC, to avert the hammer of the football governing body.
According to the report, a delegation led by former executive member
of FIFA, Dr. Amos Adamu, has been dispatched to meet with the officials
of the world football governing body to explain the latest development
regarding the NFF General Assembly moved to dissolve Maigari’s board.
* FIFA’s President, Sepp Blatter
It was gathered through a source that the NSC believes that Adamu,
who could be seen as the highest ranked ex-FIFA official Nigeria can
boast of now, will be in the best position to handle the politics at
FIFA in order to avert the ban.
“Yes, Adamu will be leading the delegation to FIFA. We believe he is
the only one that is still close to FIFA and he will be in the best
position to handle the case before it gets out of hand. I don’t think
FIFA will ban us,” said the source.
Sports Minister and chairman of the NSC, Tammy Danagogo has also dismissed fears that FIFA will punish Nigeria following the NFF congress impeachment of Aminu Maigari led board.
According to him, FIFA’s laws and statutes have not been violated and
the NSC has never interfered in the affairs of football in the country.
“If you recall I returned from Brazil to meet a letter from NFF with
Musa Amadu informing me of a court order against the present leadership
of the NFF,” Danagogo told newsmen in Abuja.
* NFF’s President, Aminu Maigari
“All of us are law abiding citizens and I had to allow the law to
follow its course. So that is just it. I will not play any role in what
is happening.
“We will try as much as possible as a government to allow the
development of our various sports in a professional manner,” he
continued.
“The professionals are discussing and I will only wish them well and
hope that whatever they are doing and whatever decision they are taking
should be in the best interest of the game and in the best interest of
our country.
“Nigeria is a country where you have a big chunk of our population as
sports lover. I am aware of the FIFA letter but the reality is that
there is no interference and we will do our best to let FIFA know that
there is no government interference and that the government does not
intend to interfere and I can assure you I will not interfere beyond
doing what is needful statutorily even by FIFA rules beyond ensuring
that there is a peaceful atmosphere,” he explained.
* Amos Adamu
“A government has a primary responsibility of maintaining peace and
order. If a court gives an order and two persons are fighting it is the
duty of the executive to say stop fighting, obey the law and pursue your
case.
“What we are doing as government now is to tell both sides I mean the
parties to this dispute is to say relax go before the court, go before
FIFA and settle your matter.
“My Ministry is not interested in unduly interference in any sports
not in only in football. We will not interfere in any sports because we
want the best professionals to handle these games.
“So what we are doing as a government is to say please both sides you
are all Nigerians, you are all stakeholders, maintain your calm,
maintain peace and law and order,” the minister said.
It could be recalled that FIFA had given Nigeria up till today, 8
July, 2014 to reinstate Maigari-led NFF board or the country risks being
suspended from all football related activities being organised by FIFA.
As at the time of compiling this report, no statement has been released by FIFA in relation to the matter.
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