Daily Independent (Lagos)
Tony Ezimakor
15 June 2011
Abuja — Board members of Nigeria Football Federation demonstrated stack ignorance of the problem which it faced in the protracted crisis in the house of football as the emergency meeting summoned by the Director General of National Sport Commission (NSC), Patrick Ekeji got up to a dramatic start Wednesday in Abuja.
The meeting had hardly started when the combat-ready NFF board members insisted that it would not participate in the singing of the national anthem unless its objection to participants invited for the meeting was accepted by the Director General.
Ekeji had asked the gathering to rise for the ritual at 11.15 am when Christopher Green in a militant fashion, rose up to object to the singing of the anthem unless members of the media and some others who he believes have no business in the meeting were excused from the gathering.
But Ekeji in his usual calm manner still went ahead with ritual forcing the board member to reluctantly join in.
Not to be deterred in the demand, the board insisted that the meeting would not proceed unless the DG listens to their objection. Green who spoke on behalf of the members said they had expected a closed-door session with Ekeji, even as they had no problems with the presence of some former Secretaries-General of NFA participating in the discussions.
“Much as we would not object to the presence of some of our senior colleagues being part of the meeting, we did not brgain to come here to be sandwiched between some faces that I see here and the media,” he fired.
Olaleye Adepoju spoke in the same vein and objected to the statement made earlier by the DG that the meeting was a ‘briefing” instead of a round table for mind rubbing.
Earlier, while addressing the board, Ekeji made it clear that it was in the interest of the board that the meeting hold pointing out that he is statutorily empowered to direct and call any meeting that would improve the discharge of his duties as Director General of the NSC.
“This meeting is in line with the mandate of my office and need for wider consultation. I have the authority to call meetings of all Nigerians toward finding solutions to problems. Those invited are called because of their wisdom and the possible impute they can make.”
Speaking further the former Green Eagles star player said that there is no battle line between the NFF and the NSC noting that football is a sport all Nigerians have a big stake.
“I called the meeting and you will not dictate to me how it will proceed. I am here to brief you after that you can decide on the way forward. If anything, I am doing what I am doing in the interest of this board. It is up to you to stay and ex-change views with others or leave,” said Ekeji.
Among former scribes that participated in the meeting were Sani Toro, Mamoud Kadiri and Fanny Amun.
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