Nigeria: Breakthrough in Resolution of Football Crisis – Seven-Man Committee to Restructure Football

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Tony Ezimakor

21 July 2011

Abuja — Except something snaps in the resolution agreed Thursday by the feuding football stakeholders group and the Nigeria Football Federation, Sports Minister, Yusuf Suleiman, may have struck the cord in the way to peace in the sector.

Following on effort initiated by the minister both parties respectively led by Jarret Tenebe and Aminu Maigari signed to allow peace prevail in the interest of football development.

In this light both parties has agreed to be forward a representative each to a committee to be inaugurated next week by the NSC with a charge to restructure Nigeria football. Other members of the committee which we gathered may not exceed seven, will consist of eminent Nigerians, who will be nominated by the Sports Commission.

Consequently, the communiqué directed all with pending matter in court to withdraw same and refrain from taking football maters to court, adding that all action should be geared toward the good and development of football

According to the document read by Tenebe the NFF is also directed to urgently put machineries in motion to reconcile members of the Nigeria Players’ Union all in the interest of the welfare need of players.

Meanwhile Suleiman has urged the media to support the present peace effort and refrain from writing inciting stories that may hamper success of present initiative.

“I am appealing to members of the media to please support the effort because without peace we cannot make progress. After meeting the two parties I am of the view that what is happening was as a result of the passion both parties have for football development but each having a different approach to solving the problems.

“The media has to join hands to promote peace so that the time devoted by managers in resolving crises can be spent in genuine football development. The press should to be neutral and not escalate the problem,” he urged.

Announcement of the peace move was watched by presidents of the various sports federation as well as President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

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