The Politicking That Schemed Lagos From NFF Board

Gafar Liameed

More facts have continued to emerge why Lagos State lost its bid of having a representative on the newly elected Board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Elective Congress of the NFF was held last Friday in Benin, Edo State where Ibrahim Gusau-led board was inaugurated after a keenly contested poll.

Lots of people present at the venue of the election were shocked by an open display of hatred and enmity by the Lagos contingent at the elective congress.

The cosmetic display of friendliness among them was thrown out of the window during the southwest election on the board.

During the election which was the last in the order of the election of delegates, observers, media men and other football stakeholders were surprised when the leadership of Lagos State FA and a former Chairman of the Lagos Sports Commission were allegedly seen openly canvassing for votes for another candidate against the only Lagosian left in the race after the Lagos State FA chairman has lost the presidential ticket earlier in the election.

A concerned football stakeholder at the venue, Abubakar Umar from Nasarawa State expressed his disappointment in the leadership of Lagos FA.

Speaking after the election, Umar said: “I think we all agreed that football is a unifier but with what I saw during the southwest election with the Lagos State FA chairman who is also the immediate past 1st Vice President of the outgone board of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and his vice chairman, Tade Azeez was most disappointing, to say the least”.

Also speaking, a senior journalist who craved anonymity said: “I am surprised that when the opportunity came for Lagos State to have another representative in the new board, the Lagos officials present bungled the glorious opportunity.

“Seeing what happened during the election was very disgusting. The saying being your brothers’ keeper was thrown into the bin by the Lagos State FA leadership and this was too bad. What is the problem that they can’t solve within them that they have to openly display such a high degree of hatred in the public? This is a rape of democracy in Lagos and the young man vying for that position.

A northern delegate who did not want his name mentioned said, he was surprised when Seyi Akinwunmi came to him after the first round of voting and shortly before the beginning of the second round of votes boldly canvassing votes for Ganiyu Majekodumi from Ogun state instead of his Lagos State FA former board member, Gafar Liameed.

“When he approached me, I told him not to worry that I would vote his man thinking he was calling me because of Gafar Liameed, but I was shocked and utterly disappointed when he said I should vote for Majekodunmi instead,” the delegate revealed.

Meanwhile, the election has come and gone with its positives and negatives, but the memories will linger for so long. The challenge is left to the Lagos State Government to take a critical look at the outcome of the election in Benin City, Edo State.