By Fidelis Ebu
ABUJA — It was a gathering of ex-football internationals yesterday at the National Sports Commission and Eagles Square.

Odegbami

But they were not playing the game as Segun Odegbami led them on a march protest over the forthcoming elections into the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The placard carrying ex-internationals numbering over 30 said they were not happy with the processes of the elections into the NFF board.

Different placards were displayed by the angry ex-internationals and some with the inscription, ‘Time for change in Nigeria Football; Nigerian Footballers must be involved; Footballers are the NFF answer’.

The presence of some of the ex_players however attracted huge attention and caused long traffic jam at the Federal Secretariat cum National Assembly; a development that brought in men and officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission to control traffic at the scene.

Odegbami, apparently the leader of the protesting ex-internationals was clad in black round-neck Tee-shirt on black jeans trouser said, “The elections into the Nigeria Football Federation should start from the local government, state government before they come to the national election.

“The rule of law must be maintained in this country; this is not a lawless country. People must follow the orders of our court and there is no authority outside of Nigeria superior to the laws of this country; those are the three main elements.

“FIFA has nothing to do with our elections; if you don’t invite them (FIFA) they will not come. We don’t know why FIFA officials are here; nobody invited them”, an angry looking Segun Odegbami said.

Wondering whether FIFA is superior to the laws of this country, Odegbami stated that, “We have court order that the elections should not be held; so you think that FIFA Statutes supercede our law? It’s not going to happen”.

There was an initial genuine protest against the aspect of the election guideline which restricted the number of people to be endorsed by the state football associations.

But that was later expunged and the process thrown open to all. Some observers still can’t understand theAgitation since it was thrown open and candidates are free to canvass for votes. One candidate for the NFA Presidency who doesn’t appear to have a chance of winning captured it this way:
“This thing is simple and clear.

Those who feel they cannot win are calling for the election not to hold and those who feel they have a chance want the election to hold.

This is not about FIFA or government or any other thing other than politics. Some must win, some must lose but everybody must abide by the rules and not sentiment or public showmanship. Go and canvass for votes and not appealing to public sentiment. Bukola Olapade was a Presidential candidate. Another candidate convinced him to step down on the grounds that he would be made Secretary-General. He did and that’s the politics we are talking about and not stopping the process.”

The candidate did not like to be quoted so that government would not be against him.
The Presidential Task Force on the World Cup, PTF had advised President Jonathan that Nigeria should withdraw from FIFA events for two years. The President agreed but later saw reason to rescind that. Those who backed the boycott now see another window to, this time, earn Nigeria a ban.

Odegbami earlier said on radio that the Nigerian football had become a case of Monkey de work Baboon dey chop,” and that “you cannot be working while others are eating.”

He later organised some ex internationals to join him and they took off from Ibadan Chief Felix Owolabi, who also was among the angry protesting ex_internationals said, “NFF is an ambit under the National Sports Commission of which the NSC is even answerable to the government.

“So, what we are saying is if you have an ambit, and that ambit is having some problems, there is a need for us to restructure.

“All we are telling FIFA is to leave us alone and let us do it the way we want it. Even if we are sanctioned, we would not mind so long as we get it right. Who is happy that Nigeria didn’t do well in the World Cup?” Chief Felix Owolabi rhetorically asked.

Austin Okocha, one of the aspirants into the executive committee of the NFF reacted thus, “Should the elections hold, the same people or even worst people will still come in there.

“If we are talking about a change, let us do it properly, let us change things. How can we not have state elections before the national elections? Certainly it’s obvious what they want, what they are looking for”, he said.

Folorunsho Okenla on his part said aside FIFA representative that is domicile in the country, “There are several other ways FIFA can monitor what is going on here; such could be achieved through either the US embassy or the British High Commission and other foreign agencies here in the country”.The protesting ex-internationals came to the Federal Secretariat that houses the NSC in two chartered coaster buses.