PFAN Disassociates Self From Proposed New Players Union

By Akeem Busari

Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria(PFAN), has reacted to the news of the purported the plans of Nigeria Football Federation to set up a new players union, reportedly hinged on the outcome of the meeting of the Reconciliation Committee led by the Deputy Governor Of Edo State, His Excellency Phillip Shuaibu.

In a swift reaction to what has been described as a ploy to further deepen the induced crisis that led to the break away ANPFU, the PFAN Task Force condemned the latest move to set up a new players union as a misnomer and miscalculated attempts by the NFF to further strengthen its strangle-like hold on Nigeria football.

According to Chief Rumson Baribote, the meeting held at the Sunday Dankaro was at the instance of the NFF and presided over by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, also had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Phillip Shuaibu and Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, as well as, PFAN task force members that included Dahiru Sadi, Edema Fuludu, Austin Popo and Chief Rumson Victor Baribote.

Baribote stated that the meeting was supposed to be a continuation of an ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiated by the Mohammed Kurfi led States Football Association Chairmen on the disputed September 30th NFF election which is pending in the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.

“That the PFAN task force was looking forward to an independent committee to address urgent reforms, imbalance, equity and fair representation in the composition of the NFF Congress, its Board and sub-committees in consonance with decisions reached at the meeting of 6th of December and previous meetings.

He continued, “the players union have no issues for reconciliation, and if even there are such issues it is not within the purview of the NFF to set up a committee to address such issues. Such issues if any, are internal matters of the players union as an independent organisation and does not require any external influence.”

Obviously miffed by the purported plans to form a new players union, beginning with a constitution drafting committee, Baribote rubbished the plans, stating that, “PFAN has a constitution, so what other constitution are we talking about here? I’m confused . Anyway to put the records straight, PFAN is one of the  Statutory members of NFF as enbodied in Article 10.1 of the NFF Statutes 2010 as amended and Article 18(2) of same Statutes gives independence to the five statutory members of the NFF of which PFAN is one of them ‘to take any decision regarding their members without external influence’.”

“So one cannot imagine non members drafting a constitution that will bind members of an organization that you are not a member. I take exception to the plans to creat another Players Union, which for me, is for the purpose of further deepening the crisis,” Baribote added.