Evil Brain:

This is terrible news.

Pure political grandstanding by GLJ and it shows that he has neither maturity nor common sense. The government interfering in football matters will achieve nothing other than a long and punishing FIFA ban.

If The president really wanted to clean up the NFF he could have quietly intimidated/blackmailed Sani Lulu and co into stepping down and organizing fair elections. He could have launched a criminal investigation into the NFF or threatened to withdraw funding. There are so many ways of effecting change without drawing FIFA's attention.

Now, because of this single foolish act Nigerian football will be set back years. As if things weren't bad enough. And at the end of everything, the NFF will still be as corrupt and useless as ever.

Sometimes I wonder if the people in Abuja have a single brain cell between them.

dafman10:

To hell wit fifa n their bans. Fifa frowns at govt interferance in footie BUT will not grant u hosting rights to their competions if their is no political n financial support from your govt. Who is foolin who?

joshO:

This is a very good move. Football needs complete over-haul, and only drastic, transformational change - root and branch - will do!


Well done Mr President. We recognize that good leadership demands actions strong and courages as this ,

dafman10:

To hell wit fifa n their bans. Fifa frowns at govt interferance in footie BUT will not grant u hosting rights to their competions if their is no political n financial support from your govt. Who is foolin who?

felifeli:

The name has also become an embarrassment . It should be changed to something more purposeful - like Abuja Bombers or Naija Lunatics.  

lexyy:

this is absolutely unbelievable, it lacks objectivity and common sense
this is not the solution to the problem
if the current NFF board is corrupt, let the EFCC investigate them
the government must always remember that this is a democracy
and this pronouncement is a coup detat  

lexyy:

this is absolutely unbelievable, it lacks objectivity and common sense
this is not the solution to the problem
if the current NFF board is corrupt, let the EFCC investigate them
the government must always remember that this is a democracy
and this pronouncement is a coup detat  

Barely had news erupted from the seat of government in Abuja than brilafm.net went to town to feel the pulse of the nation, and our roving crew of crack reporters caught up with some top stakeholders of the round leather game.

A cross section of football technocrats who aired views on the development in chats with brilafm.net were unanimous in stating that the federal government had taken the right step in throwing the spanner into the wheels of the incumbent NFF board.

However, a member of the presidential task force, former chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), retired Colonel Abdulmumini Aminu stated in an interview with brilafm.net that the federal government’s declaration should not be misinterpreted.

He said the directive is not meant to witch-hunt or destroy the NFF, but one seen as necessary to revive Nigerian football immediately.

“It is not a case of disbanding the NFF, but the government is withdrawing from all FIFA international competitions for two years

“Nobody is destroying the NFA. Their tenure has already expired and a new board is to be constituted to arrange election

“It’s a good decision for the country. Other countries like Ghana and Mozambique took similar decisions and bounced back.

“Ghana won the U-20 World Cup for Africa and look at them now. They are the only African country still in the World Cup and may get beyond the quarter final.

“We took the decision to reorganize for better results and I believe Nigeria will be better of for this,” said the former two-time military governor, who was also once president of West African Football Union (WAFU).

On his part, another member of the presidential task force, former football star and ex-England international, John Fashanu aid Wednesday’s directives are long overdue and a step in the right direction for the country.

“What can I say? I can only say this is the right decision by the president. I am happy that the chairman of the presidential committee, Rotimi Amaechi has been very brave to do this.

“Sooner or later, you will see us back at the World Cup and it will be better. We saw what happened in Ghana and what is now happening in France.

“It means no one can hold us to ransom and football belongs to the people. We have to take the country forward in football. The game of football belongs to the people,” said the one fondly called ‘Fash The Cash’.

Chairman/CEO Brila Group, Larry Izamoje, who is also a member of the presidential task force, equally aired his view on the development, and described it as a very constructive measure aimed at righting several wrongs in The Glasshouse.

Izamoje noted that the issues went beyond a poor performance by the Super Eagles at the World Cup, but hinted about underlining issues relating to poor accountability of funds and over handed

“Government was not too happy with the way they used FIFA’s grant. There were other things here and there.

“The president saw this as a way of moving Nigeria football forward and we just have to abide with the decision.

“This goes beyond FIFA clamping down on Nigeria. They will surely bring the hammer, but what government has done is to show that they are not happy with what has happened.

“It is to show that no one is above the law and what the president has done is meant to correct some things in the country and we just have to obey,” said ‘the coach-player’.

Izamoje went on to explain how President Goodluck Jonathan arrived at Wednesday’s directives, and admitted that the decisions were based mostly on the report presented to him in Abuja by members of the presidential task force.

“What happened it that we put together a report and government has been following what has been happening to Nigerian football for a long time.

“What government has done it to show that it is not happy with what has happened to Nigerian football at the World Cup and the Nations Cup and how the game has been run since 2006,” Izamoje explained.

He concluded with a hint that operatives in the country’s fiscal security units may move in to check finances of the NFF and audit accounts of the football body, with a view to unearthing any discrepancies of the officials.

“This is coming from the number one citizen in the country and he says government is interested in checking the books of the football body.

“We believe the agencies concerned will know how to go about what is expected on them. I think they should just all obey and see how Nigeria can improve in football.

“This one is coming from the number one man of the country, and we have to keep cool in such matter. We believe those agencies will move in and start doing their work.

“He also checked to avoid any situation where they try to change regulations and ensure the statutes of FIFA are followed. Any ploy to stay in office is what government says cannot happen.

"The sports minister has been told to inform FIFA about the decision of government to right the wrong that is in Nigerian football. We can only wait to see how we go from here. Mr. President has spoken and we want to follow suit and obey,” Big Larry concluded.

lexyy:

this is absolutely unbelievable, it lacks objectivity and common sense
this is not the solution to the problem
if the current NFF board is corrupt, let the EFCC investigate them
the government must always remember that this is a democracy
and this pronouncement is a coup detat  

mens dept:

Helloooooo,  That would amount to government interference  

Sometimes I think we have children on this site

AjanleKoko:

See nonsense talk sha.
GJ is a real doofus. So what if we hadn't qualified? Shoot the players?

Confusion:

pls it time to ban everything and reorganise our life

Nepa banned for life
senate banned for 100 yrs
NFF banned with their families
INEC Banned till after the election
DSTV Banned until after the world cup
Nairaland banned btw 8am to 8pm
Pls just banned or dissolve everything so that we can all reorganise
sorry also ASUU Demolished
CBN PLS DONT BAN, JUST fire that man
if i think of anything else to ban, dissolve or demolis i will let you know

mikeansy:

The BAN is the only chance to even attempt to do anything differently. Otherwise Sani Lulu will elect himself and hold the whole country to ransome based on some FIFA regulation. Why can't some of us in Nairaland reason?

The ban will not guarantee change or better fortunes, but it is the only choice to change things. The FIFA regulation was designed for societies where people have shame and where people resign if found corrupt. It is not designed for Africans. Sani Lulu will never give way for change to happen.


All this one folks are talking, the way the PTF are being decisive about this tells me somebody in FIFA may have given Government a nod to do this. Keep in mind that Lars Lagerback for some reasons lodged a copy of his contract with FIFA and so FIFA may be aware of the shenanigans that goes on in Nigeria. So folks chill.

It is also possible to flush Sani Lulu and co out, hand football to ex-players who may know what they are doing, re-organise the structure of the local league and 12 months down the line, re-apply to re-join FIFA meanwhile Sani Lulu may be cooling his backside in jail if he does not play ball.

sweet_pawn:

WOULD THAT REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM? AFTER THIS WILL WE HAVE A WORLD CLASS TEAM BETTER THAN THE TEAM OF '94?  ISN.T THAT WHAT ABACHA DID IN '96?
FA-FA-FA-FOUL!