Gusau 4+4 South-East Coordinator Urges Odegbami to Be An Elder Statesman Over NFF Board Ambition
The South-East Coordinator of the Gusau 4+4 Support Group, Uzo Epundu, has advised former Super Eagles captain, Segun Odegbami, to refrain from what he described as “desperate antics” in his reported ambition to secure a position on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board, instead he should be an Elder Statesman in his approach.
Epundu’s comments followed recent calls by Odegbami for a fresh leadership direction in Nigerian football ahead of the forthcoming NFF elective congress in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Odegbami had criticised the planned NFF elections, arguing that Nigerian football requires a fundamental change in direction rather than a continuation of the current leadership structure.
However, Epundu dismissed Odegbami’s position, insisting that Gusau had fulfilled the promises he made during his electioneering campaign and would consolidate on his achievements and make further positive adjustments if given another opportunity to serve.
According to Epundu, Odegbami’s latest position is not surprising, alleging that the former Super Eagles captain has sought a place on the NFF Board for nearly two decades without success.
“I am not surprised by Odegbami’s desperate antics to enter the NFF Board. For almost two decades, he has tried but could not get there. This has necessitated his joining the opposition in almost every election year since 2010 by trying to cause confusion in the system,” Epundu said.
He urged Odegbami to accept the realities of the present situation and refrain from what he described as attempts to undermine the current administration.
Epundu also questioned Odegbami’s record in previous national-level assignments, claiming that several of his past appointments had ended unsuccessfully.
“We know his antecedents, including his unsuccessful mobilisation of some members of NANS to demonstrate against the then NFF administrators in 2010, as well as his alleged efforts to scuttle some of Nigeria’s World Cup qualification matches, including those involving Mozambique,” he alleged.
The Gusau 4+4 coordinator said Odegbami, given his age and experience in Nigerian football, should now embrace the role of an elder statesman by offering constructive advice to younger stakeholders rather than engaging in activities that could create division within the football community.
“By now, Odegbami should be an elder statesman who should be positively advising the younger ones instead of always inciting them to achieve his ambition, which does not align with the current status of the Federation.
“He should understand that only God gives power,” Epundu added.
He maintained that Nigerian football stakeholders should not allow political differences surrounding the NFF election to disrupt what he described as the relative peace in the football community over the past four years.
Epundu alleged that some individuals had continued to create tension ahead of the elections by making statements capable of generating unnecessary divisions among stakeholders.
He therefore appealed to football stakeholders and Nigerians to support Gusau, arguing that the NFF president deserves the opportunity to consolidate on the achievements of his administration.
Epundu expressed confidence that the forthcoming NFF electoral process would provide a fresh opportunity for stakeholders to determine the future direction of Nigerian football, while urging all contestants and stakeholders to respect the electoral process and place the interests of the game above personal ambitions.
