Shifting NFF election to 2023 will be for selfish reasons – Galadima
A former Chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, has said if the 2022 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election is eventually shifted to 2023 as is being speculated, it would be for selfish reasons. Although he is yet to reverse his earlier declaration that he won’t be seeking a third term in […]
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick flanked by his first-vice president, Seyi Akinwunmi (R) and second vice-president, Malam Shehu Dikko
A former Chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, has said if the 2022 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election is eventually shifted to 2023 as is being speculated, it would be for selfish reasons.
Although he is yet to reverse his earlier declaration that he won’t be seeking a third term in office, most football stakeholders have accused the incumbent president of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick of plotting to have another four years in office.
It will be recalled that soon after he was re-elected for a second term in 2018, Pinnick who is now a member of the exalted FIFA Executive Council was reported to have said in 2022, he would make way for another person to lead the football federation.
However, the approval given by the Congressmen at the meeting in Benin City for the Executive Committee of the NFF to amend the 2010 NFF Statues appears to have stirred the hornet nest as there are growing concerns that the move is a ploy to elongate the tenure of the present leadership beyond 2022.
Reacting to the development, Galadima told Daily Trust yesterday that anyone who wants to shift the 2022 NFF election is only thinking about himself and not the overall interest of Nigerian football.
He said “When the congress in Benin approved the proposed amendment of the statues, people said the main agenda was to get tenure extension but following the public outcry, they decided to set up the amendment committee in order to buy time.
“I don’t know how they are going to do it. Everybody seems to be working for his own interest. There is so much ill-fighting. The congress too has become a rubber stamp.
“Changing the election calendar or buying time is a selfish idea. It does not matter if the election is held before the World Cup because you mustn’t be there for the World Cup to be played. There will be no justification for tenure extension,” said Galadima.
The veteran sports administrator also said Pinnick had ruled out any third term ambition so it will be better to wait to see if he would renege on his words.