By Godwin Bamigboye.
The current generation of Football Administrators in Nigeria have not been fair to present and future generations of Nigerians. I say this without equivocation because we have deliberately allowed Football in Nigeria to sail in troubled waters rather than avoiding it. Why are we leaders when we cannot solve problems? Why? Why? Why?. If we cannot solve problems by managing crisis, where lies our competence?
Rather than solve problems to the benefit of the system made up of a large followership, we prefer to settle for a fight with our critics even when such criticisms are constructive. Leveraging on constructive criticism helps in decision making. There are so many sycophants hanging around leaders to distract them in order to actualize their selfish motives rather than collective progress and development. Many leaders are blind to such sycophants. The leader must have that quality to discern such persons and also possess the inborn capacity to lead him or her.
I lament each time I look at the agitations of highly cerebral individuals like Rumson Baribote, Harrison Jalla, Etsu Babanyara, Edema Fuludu, Emmanuel Babayaro and others. Why the lamentation? I lament because the solution to the problem is just a little shifting from our own comfort zone to embrace other people’s views. Please, note that I am not advocating for total acceptance of the position of PFAN. I am advocating for a meeting point of ideas and amicable resolution of disputes for the benefit of the stakeholders. I believe that the PFAN has good intentions but they MUST also shift where necessary.
It is sad that parallel bodies are being founded to distabilise the agitated groups. What do you call that? Also disturbing is the proliferation of Supporter’s Clubs. I remember the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel. United, they were unquantifiably productive; divided, they were unproductive. I think it is a responsibility of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that all affiliate bodies are stable in order for them to contribute their quota to the overall progress and achievement of football administration.
It is on record especially with the immediate past leadership of the NFF that Football was languishing in crises while certain individuals grew rapidly. I felt happy with Pinnick’s rapid growth to becoming FIFA Executive Member but I also felt very sad that Nigeria couldn’t qualify for the senior FIFA World Cup due to certain incompetences. However, we cannot continue to dwell in the valley of lamentation when we can arise and move to higher places.
Crises is weakening our Football potentials and now is the right time to arise and stop this ugly trend. Ibrahim Musa Gusau and his team of the NFF Executive Board have the opportunity to put their names in the book of records through a timely intervention. Therefore, stabilize the NFF, its affiliates and for the benefit of stakeholders.