NFA - The silence of the graveyard!
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- Category: Sports
- Written by ODEGBAMI ON SATURDAY segunodegbami@mathmatical7.com segunodegbami@hotmail
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I want to apologise to all readers for breaking my promise not to talk about the matter of the Nigeria Football Association again on this page until all the issues related to it have been resolved by the various authorities concerned in the matter. I want to assure all that my temporary return to the subject is not to discuss any aspect of the issues already before Nigerian courts. I am doing so only as a way of information on some new and interesting developments that may help the public to understand some issues better, particularly when the roof starts to cave in on the body, as it would inevitably do, sooner than later. When matters are taken to court, or to arbitration, the wheel of justice usually turns slowly but surely, and what is needed is the patience of a vulture! The resolved political cases in Ekiti and Osun States are clear testimonies of this assertion! No matter how long it lasts the truth shall be revealed, justice will be done, and peace and development will reign.
For now, I want to admit that, given the spontaneous and massive national outcry over the NFA elections in August, I am surprised that 4 months after, most Nigerians have already given up on the struggle to reform Nigerian football. The recent actions (or inaction) of the government, particularly the silence of its sports agency, show battle-weariness and surrender. The same set of persons over whose legitimacy the entire country was embroiled over have bluffed their way into office and have taken over the reins of football administration! To strengthen their position they have continued to lure and co-opt many of those they believe would give them some semblance of legitimacy and credibility into various committees and positions in the NFF. With every passing day they are becoming bolder, more confident and more daring in the belief that, with time, the clamour for reforms would die a natural death. Many of the original gladiators of the struggle have now ‘decamped’ to become partakers in the sharing of the ‘spoils’ that will come with serving the NFF in any capacity, all in the name of serving fatherland! I assure them that I fully understand their sentiments and positions, and I may have actually embraced their actions but for the fact that this time around I intend to challenge the system to the very end of every legitimate process of seeking redress.Conversation with Henry Nwosu
I met Henry Nwosu the other night. ‘The youngest Millionaire’ (that what I have been calling him since 1980) asked me some salient questions. Since many ‘stakeholders’ in Nigerian football have accepted the present situation, even if it is against everything they stand for, why must I continue to ‘fight’ alone? Why would I refuse to team up with those presently running football in Nigeria in order that we can save the game and not destroy it? He further asked if I would be happy to see our girls and boys waste away for years without competing in international competitions if the country were to be banned by FIFA as a result of my actions. Why would I bring down Nigerian football just because I want to pursue my own ‘selfish dream’ of becoming President of the NFA? Until he said it I did not realise that even people from my own footballers’ constituency ascribed my entire ‘struggle’ to my personal ambition to be President. He revealed to me that by my actions I now have many more enemies even amongst my player-colleagues. To say the least, I was hocked. I tried to explain to him what my real motivation was. I reminded him that Nigerian football has been a huge national racket for some people and that most Nigerians, including the highest authorities in government, know this, but have lacked the tools and the will to take painful decisions and do the right things that would bring about change for the greater interest of the entire country. I told him why it was now ‘too late’ for me to retreat. That it would tantamount to compromising my principles if I were to join in what I have described above that we all know is a national football racket! I reminded him how many times in the past I had been accused by mutual friends of never to completing struggles I lead people into and how I had suffered castigation as a result from many of them. I told him how I had to promise co-travellers in this struggle that this time around to follow the struggle to its logical end, not falling for carrots or succumbing to intimidation or threats, but remaining steadfast in the sanctity of truth, fair play and justice.
I told him that I believe that some people will only have themselves to blame if in the end their present actions turn out to be their Archille’s heel! I told him that I strongly believe that anyone that knows the truth and either remains silent or participates in the ongoing situation will be complicit in the matter before the courts, and that people must be careful. I believe that this whole matter has now become an unfortunate abuse of our courts and of our legal system and that, soon, the entire ‘house of football’ that is built on quicksand will come crashing down like a pack of cards. When that happens all Nigerians should remember that they should hold no one but those perpetrating the present rape and enjoying it responsible.
Well, let it never be said that we all are accomplices in this conspiracy to denigrate the sanctity of our courts. Some of us are not raising dust, but are only just challenging the issues through the legitimate processes without fighting the system and even without attempting to stop the illegality! I would just remind us all once again at this point that the wheel of justice turns very slowly but very surely!
Illegitimacy delivers illegitimacy - NFF Congress!
I am told that a congress of the NFF is being called for the end of December 2010. What congress? The congress of member associations that have not had elections to select their representatives?
Once again we are faced with the matter of an assembly of persons that have been in office for upwards of 5 years. None of the members is qualified to represent their association any more. Once again an illegitimate congress is being called to seat and to determine how, when, where and the means by which its member associations will hold their elections! Is this not the issue that almost brought Nigerian football to its knees a few months ago that has not till now been resolved? The NFF or its Congress does not have the right or the power to interfere in any way with the internal affairs of its members! Not to talk of an NFF that lacks legitimacy. The member associations of the NFF are independent organisations with their own rules and constitution. They must set their own agenda provided they are not offensive to the Statutes and rules of FIFA.
As a bonafide member of a State Football Association I wait to see what will happen when a person we have not re-elected or appointed goes to represent us at a Congress where decisions on what happens in our association will be determined. Surely, the road to an eventual ‘peace’ is still a long way off!
They forget that every one of these associations is only an affiliate of the NFF, that are totally independent and that the NFF cannot and must not interfere in their internal affairs! Thats what the statutes of FIFA and of the NFF say very clearly. Think of it: Can FIFA determine when or how the elections into Nigeria’s NFF should take place? It is the individual member associations that must use their constitution which must comply with the basic guidelines of the NFF Statutes and decide how, where, when they conduct their elections to select their representative to any general Assembly that shall be called by the Secretariat of the NFF or any other body approved to run the NFF until a new Executive Committee is elected by the new Congress!.
If elections into State FA’s and other associate bodies do not hold there can be no new Executive Committee. An old and expired General Assembly cannot elect a new Executive Committee.
Those that have chosen to subvert the Statutes of FIFA and to treat with disregard the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also treat with scorn the simple legal judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction must be ready to face the music when a new tune starts to be played.
Government and Football
I just read that FIFA is observing very closely what is happening in Ghana. The report states that the investigation of the Ghana Football Federation by the government agency responsible for fraud in Ghana is being frowned at by FIFA because the organisation does not take kindly to government’s intervention in the internal affairs of its member.
Interestingly also I have just read about the intervention of the British government in the ownership of the Professional Clubs in the UK! That the British government is concerned with the financial state of the clubs that have been declaring huge financial losses and has decided to investigate the causes and take measures to stem the slide.
These are two cases involving financial matters, one involving a national association and the other a professional club that is a member of a national association.
In the case of Ghana, a third world African country, we hear already the drum beats of a FIFA threat to sanction Ghana should the government intervene in their matter. On the other hand in the case of the UK Clubs, there is absolute silence from FIFA.
Are there different laws for different countries in the world? Why do we never hear about FIFA threat of a sanction or a ban when the country involved is one of the giants of European football?
Is what is good for the goose not good also for the gander? I am waiting and watching to see what FIFA will do as the British government goes ahead to intervene in the ownership of professional clubs in the UK. Remember that this is the clime of independence, where clubs are truly privately owned and are independent of government. Yet, where the failures of a club will affect the greater interest of the public, government steps in and FIFA does nothing!
Those vested with the responsibility to supervise all sports in Nigeria, should take a cue from what is going on and fight for the interest of their people and not be frightened by the threat of suspension by a foreign organisation and made complicit in the denigration of the laws of Nigeria and disregard for the court judgements of the land.
Domestic Nigerian Football - so far so poor
The Nigerian Premier League is on-going. The league apparently started fairly well under the direction of the League secretariat, because the Premier League is yet to resolve the matter of who is its legitimate Chairman. The board is unable to function freely and fully and so the league has staggered along. It is unbelievable but true that a league that was the toast of many prospective sponsors now has no sponsor. The product and its packaging is no longer the courted bride that it used to be. Most of the players are ‘slaves’ owed money by their various employers, paid scandalous wages - the lowest wages in world football. From reports reaching me Nigerian referees are still as Nigerian as they have always being - good referees hindered from great performances by ‘poverty’ or/and intimidation, cleverly influencing how the matches they handle end. Away teams still suffer unbelievable humiliation and harassment in some stadia. Teams travel by road through punishing distances and perilous environments. Meanwhile, it is only the Premier league that exists in the consciousness of Nigerians. The lower and other leagues, including the female leagues may be going on without a mention in the media, without proper scrutiny and monitoring.
Articles
NFA - The silence of the graveyard!
Category: Sports Written by ODEGBAMI ON SATURDAY segunodegbami@mathmatical7.com segunodegbami@hotmail Hits: 1751
I want to apologise to all readers for breaking my promise not to talk about the matter of the Nigeria Football Association again on this page until all the issues related to it have been resolved by the various authorities concerned in the matter. I want to assure all that my temporary return to the subject is not to discuss any aspect of the issues already before Nigerian courts. I am doing so only as a way of information on some new and interesting developments that may help the public to understand some issues better, particularly when the roof starts to cave in on the body, as it would inevitably do, sooner than later. When matters are taken to court, or to arbitration, the wheel of justice usually turns slowly but surely, and what is needed is the patience of a vulture! The resolved political cases in Ekiti and Osun States are clear testimonies of this assertion! No matter how long it lasts the truth shall be revealed, justice will be done, and peace and development will reign.
For now, I want to admit that, given the spontaneous and massive national outcry over the NFA elections in August, I am surprised that 4 months after, most Nigerians have already given up on the struggle to reform Nigerian football. The recent actions (or inaction) of the government, particularly the silence of its sports agency, show battle-weariness and surrender. The same set of persons over whose legitimacy the entire country was embroiled over have bluffed their way into office and have taken over the reins of football administration! To strengthen their position they have continued to lure and co-opt many of those they believe would give them some semblance of legitimacy and credibility into various committees and positions in the NFF. With every passing day they are becoming bolder, more confident and more daring in the belief that, with time, the clamour for reforms would die a natural death. Many of the original gladiators of the struggle have now ‘decamped’ to become partakers in the sharing of the ‘spoils’ that will come with serving the NFF in any capacity, all in the name of serving fatherland! I assure them that I fully understand their sentiments and positions, and I may have actually embraced their actions but for the fact that this time around I intend to challenge the system to the very end of every legitimate process of seeking redress.Conversation with Henry Nwosu
I met Henry Nwosu the other night. ‘The youngest Millionaire’ (that what I have been calling him since 1980) asked me some salient questions. Since many ‘stakeholders’ in Nigerian football have accepted the present situation, even if it is against everything they stand for, why must I continue to ‘fight’ alone? Why would I refuse to team up with those presently running football in Nigeria in order that we can save the game and not destroy it? He further asked if I would be happy to see our girls and boys waste away for years without competing in international competitions if the country were to be banned by FIFA as a result of my actions. Why would I bring down Nigerian football just because I want to pursue my own ‘selfish dream’ of becoming President of the NFA? Until he said it I did not realise that even people from my own footballers’ constituency ascribed my entire ‘struggle’ to my personal ambition to be President. He revealed to me that by my actions I now have many more enemies even amongst my player-colleagues. To say the least, I was hocked. I tried to explain to him what my real motivation was. I reminded him that Nigerian football has been a huge national racket for some people and that most Nigerians, including the highest authorities in government, know this, but have lacked the tools and the will to take painful decisions and do the right things that would bring about change for the greater interest of the entire country. I told him why it was now ‘too late’ for me to retreat. That it would tantamount to compromising my principles if I were to join in what I have described above that we all know is a national football racket! I reminded him how many times in the past I had been accused by mutual friends of never to completing struggles I lead people into and how I had suffered castigation as a result from many of them. I told him how I had to promise co-travellers in this struggle that this time around to follow the struggle to its logical end, not falling for carrots or succumbing to intimidation or threats, but remaining steadfast in the sanctity of truth, fair play and justice.
I told him that I believe that some people will only have themselves to blame if in the end their present actions turn out to be their Archille’s heel! I told him that I strongly believe that anyone that knows the truth and either remains silent or participates in the ongoing situation will be complicit in the matter before the courts, and that people must be careful. I believe that this whole matter has now become an unfortunate abuse of our courts and of our legal system and that, soon, the entire ‘house of football’ that is built on quicksand will come crashing down like a pack of cards. When that happens all Nigerians should remember that they should hold no one but those perpetrating the present rape and enjoying it responsible.
Well, let it never be said that we all are accomplices in this conspiracy to denigrate the sanctity of our courts. Some of us are not raising dust, but are only just challenging the issues through the legitimate processes without fighting the system and even without attempting to stop the illegality! I would just remind us all once again at this point that the wheel of justice turns very slowly but very surely!
Illegitimacy delivers illegitimacy - NFF Congress!
I am told that a congress of the NFF is being called for the end of December 2010. What congress? The congress of member associations that have not had elections to select their representatives?
Once again we are faced with the matter of an assembly of persons that have been in office for upwards of 5 years. None of the members is qualified to represent their association any more. Once again an illegitimate congress is being called to seat and to determine how, when, where and the means by which its member associations will hold their elections! Is this not the issue that almost brought Nigerian football to its knees a few months ago that has not till now been resolved? The NFF or its Congress does not have the right or the power to interfere in any way with the internal affairs of its members! Not to talk of an NFF that lacks legitimacy. The member associations of the NFF are independent organisations with their own rules and constitution. They must set their own agenda provided they are not offensive to the Statutes and rules of FIFA.
As a bonafide member of a State Football Association I wait to see what will happen when a person we have not re-elected or appointed goes to represent us at a Congress where decisions on what happens in our association will be determined. Surely, the road to an eventual ‘peace’ is still a long way off!
They forget that every one of these associations is only an affiliate of the NFF, that are totally independent and that the NFF cannot and must not interfere in their internal affairs! Thats what the statutes of FIFA and of the NFF say very clearly. Think of it: Can FIFA determine when or how the elections into Nigeria’s NFF should take place? It is the individual member associations that must use their constitution which must comply with the basic guidelines of the NFF Statutes and decide how, where, when they conduct their elections to select their representative to any general Assembly that shall be called by the Secretariat of the NFF or any other body approved to run the NFF until a new Executive Committee is elected by the new Congress!.
If elections into State FA’s and other associate bodies do not hold there can be no new Executive Committee. An old and expired General Assembly cannot elect a new Executive Committee.
Those that have chosen to subvert the Statutes of FIFA and to treat with disregard the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also treat with scorn the simple legal judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction must be ready to face the music when a new tune starts to be played.
Government and Football
I just read that FIFA is observing very closely what is happening in Ghana. The report states that the investigation of the Ghana Football Federation by the government agency responsible for fraud in Ghana is being frowned at by FIFA because the organisation does not take kindly to government’s intervention in the internal affairs of its member.
Interestingly also I have just read about the intervention of the British government in the ownership of the Professional Clubs in the UK! That the British government is concerned with the financial state of the clubs that have been declaring huge financial losses and has decided to investigate the causes and take measures to stem the slide.
These are two cases involving financial matters, one involving a national association and the other a professional club that is a member of a national association.
In the case of Ghana, a third world African country, we hear already the drum beats of a FIFA threat to sanction Ghana should the government intervene in their matter. On the other hand in the case of the UK Clubs, there is absolute silence from FIFA.
Are there different laws for different countries in the world? Why do we never hear about FIFA threat of a sanction or a ban when the country involved is one of the giants of European football?
Is what is good for the goose not good also for the gander? I am waiting and watching to see what FIFA will do as the British government goes ahead to intervene in the ownership of professional clubs in the UK. Remember that this is the clime of independence, where clubs are truly privately owned and are independent of government. Yet, where the failures of a club will affect the greater interest of the public, government steps in and FIFA does nothing!
Those vested with the responsibility to supervise all sports in Nigeria, should take a cue from what is going on and fight for the interest of their people and not be frightened by the threat of suspension by a foreign organisation and made complicit in the denigration of the laws of Nigeria and disregard for the court judgements of the land.
Domestic Nigerian Football - so far so poor
The Nigerian Premier League is on-going. The league apparently started fairly well under the direction of the League secretariat, because the Premier League is yet to resolve the matter of who is its legitimate Chairman. The board is unable to function freely and fully and so the league has staggered along. It is unbelievable but true that a league that was the toast of many prospective sponsors now has no sponsor. The product and its packaging is no longer the courted bride that it used to be. Most of the players are ‘slaves’ owed money by their various employers, paid scandalous wages - the lowest wages in world football. From reports reaching me Nigerian referees are still as Nigerian as they have always being - good referees hindered from great performances by ‘poverty’ or/and intimidation, cleverly influencing how the matches they handle end. Away teams still suffer unbelievable humiliation and harassment in some stadia. Teams travel by road through punishing distances and perilous environments. Meanwhile, it is only the Premier league that exists in the consciousness of Nigerians. The lower and other leagues, including the female leagues may be going on without a mention in the media, without proper scrutiny and monitoring.