Need for NFF to come clean in resolving Supporters Club crisis

By Ifeanyi Eduzor
When news filtered out some months ago about plans of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to mediate between the various factions of Supporters Club with the aim of having a one united club as was in the past, many lovers of the round leather game in the country heaved a sign of relief believing that by now, the issue of having multiple clubs will be a thing of the past.
Surprisingly, many months after that news came to the public domain, nothing has been heard about the move.

Investigation carried out by this writer indicates that shortly after the present President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusua took over the mantle of leadership from Amaju Pinnick, he made it clear that he was not comfortable with having many Supporters Club and Players Union.

He announced that he was going to set up a reconciliation committee comprising of all former Secretary Generals of the football house to wade into the crisis and proffer solution on how to bring all the factions under one umbrella.

His decision was based on the fact that some of the clubs especially those that broke out from the mother club apart from becoming unruly are now a distraction to the national teams.

In rolling out the plan, Gusau emphasized the benefits of having one united club appearing in one attire and rendering the same melodious music which motivates the players to put in their best for the country and that a united players union is what is needed by the ex- players for them to be taken serious and their voices heard.

Shortly after, he set up a committee headed by the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Saibu to reconcile the Players Union but did nothing about that of the Supporters Club.

But what baffles one is that since that noble pronouncement was made, the NFF helmsman has not made any further efforts to set up the committee which has left many tongues wagging.

One had expected that the despatch with which the NFF set up a committee for the reconciliation of the Players Union and appointment of a new Super Eagles’ gaffer when Jose Peserio threw in the towel would have also been extended to the Supporters Club to save our country’s football supportership from further ridicule.

Interestingly, two former scribes of the football house; Alhaji Sani Toro and Fanny Amu who spoke to this writer on phone confirmed that they’re aware of the committee but are still waiting for the NFF to provide the modalities and logistics for it to start work , assuring that they’ll be ready to offer their services once the coast is clear.

The question that should be agitating the minds of everyone now; is why has the NFF not deemed it fit to inaugurate the committee many months after it’s pronouncement. Does it mean that outside forces who are bent on trauncating this noble initiative are working behind the scene to make sure that the reconciliation does not see the light of the day or could it be that some factional leaders are profiting from the crisis and will not want to abide by any decision recommended by the committee so that they will continue to be relevant or better still could it be that the NFF helmsman has totally forgotten about the committee.
All these and other questions are begging for answer from the football house.

As a Nigerian who wants things to work under a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, am disturbed that the country that has in the past won various FIFA and CAF awards through the Supporters Club is now been reduced to a laughing stock in the commity of football nation’s because of the activities of some unguided individuals whose ego and personal ambition will not allow them to play to the rules guilding a club they belong to.

Casting one’s mind back to the genesis of the crisis witnessed in the club, one will not forget in a hurry the role played by a top NFF member who encouraged Prince Vincent Okumagba to break away from the Nigeria Football Supporters Club for the simple reason that as the Acting National Chairman, he lost election to the incumbent National Chairman, Rev. Samuel Ikpea.

It’s on record that Okumagba alongside one Sunny Gullung with support from some staff of the Sports Ministry formed Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club before Russia 2018 world cup.
But three months after the world cup, he left the club following disagreement with the Board of Trustees to form Supper Eagles Supporters Club with Kemi Popoola forming Nigeria football Fan’s Supporters Club. She did this as a result of a disagreement between her and Abayomi Ogunjimi who took over the leadership of the club after Okumagba left.

Shortly after, Abayomi Ogunjimi also left the club for Sunny Gullung , Chairman of the Board of Trustees who was never a member of the Supporters Club to form Authentic Football And Allied Sports Supporters Club thereby bringing the number of Supporters Club in the country to six.

As this ugly scenario was playing out, Okumagba’s group with the support of some NFF officials went ahead to register Super Eagles Supporters Club with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the football house recognized them even when there was strong opposition from the mother club that the members of the new group were either suspended or expelled for anti- club activities

To confirm the then NFF tactical support for the bastardization of the club, the former 1st Vice President of the football house, Seyi Akinmunmi attended the launch of Authentic Football And Allied Sports Supporters Club as Special Guest of Honour giving credence to the fact that they have approval of the football house.

Investigation further revealed that right now, a faction in Okumagba group has dragged him to court claiming that he has been removed from office at their last election. The faction is led by Dr. Dagana Johnson as the chairman and Aloa Emejuro as his vice. And this development if not properly managed could also lead to another supporters club emerging from the same group.

From the foregoing, it will be discovered that the mainstream Supporters Club is never the problem rather the personal ambition of some people who felt they cannot be disciplined or corrected when they erred are the root cause of the problem.

Even the argument by Okumagba that one of his major reasons for breaking away was the domineering attitude and sit tight syndrome of the President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo can not hold waters because the major decisions for the day to day running of the club is done by the National Chairman, Rev Samuel Ikpea, an astute administrator and lover of peace who is known for his open door policy since he assumed office.

With the Nigerian Super Eagles expected to have a new lease of life following the appointment of Finidi George as Head Coach of the national team, history beckons on the NFF President to do the needful and inaugurate the reconciliation committee for the good of Nigerian football.

I believe that when such a committee made up of eminent Nigerians submit their report and their recommendations implemented, it will help to sanitize the system because any one that fails to abide by the resolution will be sanctioned by the NFF who are custodians of Nigerian football.