Football
Chairman of the Media and Publicity
Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande on
Thursday cleared the air on the Federation’s mandate to its President, Amaju
Melvin Pinnick, with regards to the forthcoming election into the presidency of
the Confederation of African Football.
“The issue of which of the two
candidates the NFF should support came up during our last Board meeting in
Abuja, on Tuesday 7th February 2017. Every single member of Board spoke on the
issue and expressed support for the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, to
use his discretion and vote for that candidate who will best serve Nigeria’s
interest during the election. This support was given based on the fact as the
NFF President and a Member of the CAF Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup
of Nations, he is fully in tune with the political play at that level and knows
what would be best for Nigeria.
“There was not a dissenting voice in
the room that day. Everyone agreed that Mr. Pinnick should go ahead and cast
his vote for the candidate he feels would support Nigerian Football to grow the
way we want it. It is not correct for anyone to say the matter was not
discussed.”
“The Board spent good time
discussing the CAF elections and the importance of Nigeria having someone on
the CAF Executive Committee, considering the huge role that our nation has
always been playing in peace –keeping and sundry noble programs on the
continent.
“There is no division in the NFF
Board. We are giving full and unconditional support to Mr. Pinnick to stand for
the elections and for him to cast his vote for that candidate whose presidency
of CAF would serve the interest of our great nation.”
Yahaya-Kwande, who is a ranking
member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, stated that the Federation
remained grateful for the support that the Federal Government continues to give
to the body towards the execution of its programmes and activities.
The 39th Ordinary Congress of CAF,
at which the elections would take place, comes up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in
exactly three weeks’ time.
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