Following the resolution between football stakeholders and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Abuja on Monday, June 20, 2022, the Southwest Football Association have called on Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to speedily convene the Annual General Assembly to set the modalities in place for September Congress.
The Southwest FA which comprises six southwest states FAs in a meeting on Friday, after being briefed about Monday’s resolutions by the Oyo State FA chairman, HRM James Odeniran, issued a communique to that effect.
Recall that on Monday, the sports ministry met with the chairmen of Concerned State Football Association and the Players’ Union to withdraw an ex-parte order at the Bayelsa State Federal High Court to allow the NFF commence preparations for the September 2022 congress.
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The case was brought before the court by a board member of Nembe City FC, Seigha Obiene, who was dissatisfied with the conduct of the congress that ushered in NFF President Amaju Pinnick into Glass House for a second term.
According to the communique issued by the Southwest FA chairmen and stakeholders as reported by sports journalist Niyi Busari, the zone support the immediate convening of the Annual General Assembly which is one of the conditions listed before Obiene agreed to withdraw the case from court.
The communique read in part: “following the report of the Abuja meeting by the Oyo State FA Chairman and the impending vacation of the court injunction that has prevented the earlier convening of the NFF Annual General Assembly, it was resolved that the Zone supports the urgent convening of the Annual General Assembly as soon as is possible in line with the NFF Statutes.”
Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report alleged that Pinnick has a sinister plan to continue in office beyond his tenure by hanging on the ex-parte order as the reason behind his non-conduct of the September Congress to elect new national football governing members.
According to the report, the NFF President is trying to leverage on litigations to appeal to FIFA for a further one year in office to perfect the covert move.
All efforts made by The Trumpet to confirm this report from the national football governing body by reaching out NFF director of media communication, Ademola Olajire and Vice President of the NFF, Shehu Dikko, proved abortive.
Reportedly, the Southwest FA meeting had in attendance, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi (Chairman Lagos State FA), Alhaji Nojimu Lasisi (Vice Chairman Ogun State FA), Otunba Dele Ajayi (Chairman Ondo State FA), HRM James Odeniran (Chairman Oyo State FA), Otunba Mustapha Rasaq Isola ( Chairman Osun State FA), and Mr Bayo Olanlege (Chairman Ekiti State FA).
Also in the meeting were Otunba Tade Azeez (NRA President), Mr Akeem Rabiu-Okikioposu (Secretary Lagos State FA), Mr Pelumi Abiara (Secretary Ekiti State FA), Mr Idowu Victor (Secretary Ogun State FA), Chief. Adetoyinbo Ibukun Ezekiel (Secretary Ondo State FA) Mr Kehinde Ojelowo (Secretary Oyo State FA), and Mr Abayomi Amoo (Secretary Osun State).
