Football bigwigs battle to succeed Pinnick
The tussle for leadership of the federation has found a wrestling ground located in northern Nigeria following Pinnick's public declaration he is not planning to vie for a third term
By
Abdulgafar Oladimeji
The vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) Shehu Dikko is neck-deep in the fight against his geographic neighbour, who is the Chairman of Chairmen in the federation, Ibrahim Gusau over who would succeed the exiting president of the federation, Amaju Pinnick.
The Delta born outgoing president has publicly declared that he would not be running for a third term tenure in office, citing family pressure, a decision, many have continued to perceive as a trick to buy time to find relief from the persistent calls for his resignation, after the failure by the Super Eagles to secure a place at the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup.
Our checks revealed that the decision by Pinnick not to throw his hat into the third term bid naturally pave way for the vast thought that the tussle for leadership of the federation has found a wrestling ground located in northern Nigeria.
Further unconfirmed checks revealed that the current vice president of the federation, Dikko had long positioned himself in a strategic pattern that is fashioned to give him a technical edge to ascend the football throne, anytime Pinnick slips or quits the scene under whatever circumstance.
Grapevine sources disclosed that Gusau, who is the chairman of Zamafara State Football Association is reported to have long continued to subtly buy his way into the system, today he is the doyen of the state FA chairmen in Nigeria, aided by his moves through surreptitious scheming to take over the reins of football in the largest football nation in Africa.
A source privy to the battle for the soul of Nigerian football, who confided in our reporter said “ in all sincerity, things are shaping up on who will replace Pinnick, stakeholders have continued to rub minds over where the pendulum will swing.
“Dikko has shown that he is a technocrat, in the area of marketing, strategy and his efforts to secure sponsorship cannot go unnoticed, but he has a poor, very poor human relations, football needs persons who can relate with all calibre of persons irrespective of their class, creed or economic status, this is what is missing in Dikko, his football business acumen will be good for our football.
“Gusau is down to earth in his dealing with people in the sector, he can relate with anybody anytime anywhere, no matter who you are, Ibrahim will relate with you, but he lacks the strategy and marketing capacity to sell our football to the corporate world.
Our source opines that Gusau occupies an edge against Dikko, “ why I said so is that, his relationship with all the States FA chairmen is fantastic, he has been involved in the dirty jobs that brought some of the chairmen to the seats they occupy as the state FA chairmen or let me put it this way he conducted and supervised the election that brought almost all the state FA chairmen to power,
“Secondly the state chairmen are not comfortable with anyone who is not one of them, they are more comfortable with Gusau who is one of them to become the next NFF president., to make sure things continue to be business as usual.”
A top sports official, who confided in this reporter said the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports has kept a tape wire on all the unveilings as the NFF polls approach.
The source said “ the honourable minister is aware of the need not to fold his hands and allow the situation to degenerate.
“I can tell you that there are worries in the ministry on the importance to have somebody who is credible to take charge off the affairs of football in Nigeria, it is a huge task, it is challenging and we are having a sleepless night over this matter.”
Though the decision by a frontline member of the federation, Ahmad Fresh not to join the race must have helped to further ease the impending war, our reporter gathered that Fresh rejected all entreaties from various caucuses from within and outside, a source said “ he wants to play a back role, stay from behind, noting that the vice president of the federation, Seyi Akinwumi is playing the dark horse in the build-up to the race.
Our source said, “ Seyi is eyeing the seat and feels he is the most qualified in all facets of qualification to occupy the coveted football seat, he is taking his time and he is aligning his chances with the political developments in the country to weigh in his favour to become Nigeria’s football numero uno.”
Despite the statement credited to Amaju citing his decision not to vie for a third term in office an ardent keen follower of the developments in the Nigerian football sector said “ critical minds are in doubt over the comment not to run for the third term in office made by Amaju.
“There are people on the sideline who don’t trust Amaju, at the dying minute he might change his mind and adopt his joker card, which some of us know very well that joker card in his pocket, but will not say it here, he might use the card at the last minute to dislodge all of them, then hell will be let loose everywhere.
“Our football is setting on a keg of gun powder, the earlier our football elders such as Ibrahim Galadima, Kojo Williams, Bolaji intervene the better, if not when the situation explodes, it will be too bad for the game.” Our source warned.
