By Mark Baber
August 27 – Just days after the burning down of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) headquarters in Abuja in suspicious circumstances, August 26 will be remembered as the day when Nigerian football definitively failed to put aside its infighting for the common cause of Nigerian football.
In the morning NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari was arrested, in the early evening a new president was elected, with the support of the Sports Minister by one faction, before another NFF faction met to insist Maigari is still the legitimate President.
Maigari Arrest
Maigari was reportedly arrested by operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) in the morning of the 26, prior to a FIFA-approved meeting, including 36 States FA chairmen, at which the date for new NFF elections was to be set, with Maigari having failed to submit forms to stand for election on 26 August.
Hearing of the arrests, the chairmen headed for the DSS office to find out the reasons for the arrest and show their solidarity but, according to local media, they were confronted with teargas, the use of force and threats they would be shot. There are conflicting reports as to whether or not former chairman of the technical committee Chris Green and the General Secretary, Musa Amadu were originally arrested with Maigari.
Intervention of Sports Minister
Whilst the chairmen reportedly refused to leave the roadside, at about 6.15 pm, the Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tamuno Danagogo reportedly arrived at the Chida International Hotel in Utako together with Musa Amadu.
Danagogo reportedly declared the meeting open and addressed those present saying, “It is well known to all of us here that in recent times all has not been well with Nigerian football. We have seen the impeachment of the president of the NFF and his reinstatement and as concerned stakeholders we have been talking, trying to find a way to resolve the issue amicably.
“It is also true that it is only one person that can become the president of the NFF at a time. We will also say it that it is not right for one individual to hold the entire nation to ransom. I will not do that and as minister I will also not condone that. Therefore, it is your duty as a congress to correct all the anomalies today.”
Danagogo said that as a gentleman, Maigari should stick by his August 12 resignation letter and, “We have done everything possible as a ministry and as a government to bring peace to the NFF, there is no doubt that there is a problem and there is a faction. There is nobody that I cannot work with as a minister, whether it is Umeh or Ogunjobi or Amanze or Mainasara.”
Election of Chris Giwa
Following Danagogo’s speech, Chris Giwa, owner of Glo Premier League club Giwa FC was voted in as new president of the NFF with 27 votes, ahead of Mike Umeh who reportedly only received 2 votes. Umeh’s camp promptly declared the election invalid and walked out of the meeting. Chris Giwa, on the other hand was delighted, declaring his election was clearly and “an act of God.”
Maigari faction insist he is still president
Later in the day, braving the presence of plain-clothes police around the Bentley Hotel venue, another meeting was held reportedly including 40 of the 44 congress delegates, under the auspices of the General Assembly of the NFF. The meeting condemned the election of Giwa as a “charade” and voted to dissolve the NFF executive, agreeing that a congress will be held on September 4 in Abuja for the elections proper while insisting Maigari be reinstated to oversee the process. The meeting also dissolved the electoral committee chaired by Amoni Biambo.
Maigari “resigns”
This morning, reports in the Nigerian press suggest Maigari has officially resigned as the President with effect from yesterday Tuesday 26 August, 2014. However, Maigari’s followers are claiming the letter of resignation is a forgery.
It seems likely FIFA will intervene in the electoral process again to confirm the September 4 date and condemn Nigerian government interference. Those standing are expected to include Taiwo Ogunjobi, Amanze Uchegbulam and Umeh and it remains to be seen if Maigari will be in a position to stand.
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