NSC, NFF succumb to NFA

Category: Sports Published on Saturday, 28 May 2011 06:00 Written by Orkula Shaagee Hits: 1040

The Nigeria Football Federation led by its President Alhaji Aminu Maigari on Tuesday after an emergency meeting announced a life ban on five members of the ‘rebel’ group and urged members of the nation’s football family not to have anything to do with them.

But contrary to their (NFF) earlier pronouncement, the board alongside officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) met with the aggrieved stakeholders, during which they resolved to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Assistant Director in the Commission, Dr. Ademola Are resolved said the meeting also to look into the issues raised by the Jarret Tenebe group and the response by the NFF, even as it noted that the battle is far from being won and lost.

“At a joint meeting between football stakeholders and Director General (DG) National Sports Commission, which was at the instance of the DG, deliberated on issues related to finding a lasting solution to the crises bedevilling Nigerian football and noted the issues raised by the group led by Jarret Tenebe and the response of the Nigeria Football Association otherwise known as NFF led by Chief Mike Umeh.

“It noted the request of the NSC DG for time to brief his principals and the issues raised and observed the need to handle the matter with maturity as nothing has yet been lost and won.

Appreciated the fact that no individual is greater that Nigeria and that the Commission will take into account the interest of Nigeria in taking this matter forward and in particular the development of football in Nigeria.

“The meeting also agreed to give the DG time to brief his principals and report back within the shortest possible time, and also commended the Inspector General of Police for his understanding and cooperation on this matter”, it stated.

The meeting was attended by five members of the splinter group, led by their Chairman Jarret Tenebe and First Vice Chairman Alhaji Ahmed Gara Gombe. The NSC team led by Chief Patrick Ekeji also includes Abba Yola, Caleb Gidado, Mrs. Amaka Ashiofu and Dr. Ademola Are; while the NFF was represented by Chief Mike Ume, Barrister Musa Amadu and Okey Obi, while ACP Gideon Akinsola represented the Police.