It’s Not Over: NFF crisis bubbles as Maigari Meets With 23 State FAs, declared substantive President

[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”b6GlZnuyROWTKpHUje6SRUmrLZTF4Syd”]

Confusion has enveloped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as its impeached President, Aminu Maigari, is still calling the shots.

Maigari in his bid to stave off the ratification of his impeachment by the congress earlier billed for today in Abuja met with 23 state football association chairmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

We learnt that the 23 chairmen congregated at Ayala Hotel, Area 11 in Abuja before they drove away in convoy to another hotel in Jabi, a suburb of Abuja.

As at press time last night, it could not be ascertained those who attended the meeting with Maigari, but sources disclosed that they were mainly from the Northern part of the country with some from the South-South.

Maigari, who was impeached by eight of the 13-member NFF Executive Committee during its meeting last week Thursday in Abuja, is said to have vowed to fight back.

In doing so, he (Maigari) through his allies called the meeting that met on Wednesday in Abuja.

Those who attended the meeting, according to sources, were expected to sign a petition with their passport photographs attached for onward submission to FIFA, calling for another ban.

The text message allegedly sent to the state FA chairmen on Tuesday calling for the meeting in English and Hausa languages reads:

“Salam. Senior stakeholder you are kindly requested by President Aminu Maigari to meet him in Abuja tomorrow (Wednesday) for discussions necessary logistics has been put in place call P.A to president. Allah ya kawoka lafiya.

“President Alh. Aminu Maigari. Ya che in shaida Maka chewa kayi kokari ka shigo Abuja Gobe. Kuma in Zaa zo kowa yazo da passport photograph din shi. Zaa sanar da sunan hotel din da zamu zauna later”.

To ensure that the chairmen turned up for the meeting, two of the ousted NFF boss’ allies were detailed to mobilise them.

While one who is a member of the three-man committee that negotiated contract extension with Stephen Keshi was saddled with the responsibility of mobilising the chairmen in the South, the other who called for a failed meeting in Jos, recently ensured that the FA bosses in the North attend the Abuja meeting.

It will be recalled that the Executive Committee anchored by Maigari’s impeachment on alleged misappropriation of funds and secrecy in the finances of the NFF.

The communiqué endorsed by the eight members that impeached him reads in part: “After thorough and exhaustive deliberations on the uncalled-for secrecy surrounding all financial dealings of the Federation and failure to call meeting of the Executive Committee passed a vote of no confidence on the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

“In view of the above, the Committee approved the immediate dismissal of Alhaji Aminu Maigari from the NFF Executive Committee on grounds of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration.

“The Committee resolved to mandate the 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Okeke Umeh, as Acting President, to preside over the affairs of the Federation, pending the composition of the new NFF Executive Committee after the elections of Tuesday, 26th August, 2014.

“The Executive Committee commended world football-governing body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football for its keen interest in the development of Nigeria football and pledged that the country will continue to abide by the dictates of FIFA and CAF statutes and the FIFA -approved NFF statutes,”

However, as a result of Maigari’s moves, the board of the NFF that met last night postponed the congress indefinitely with a view to conveying it on a date yet to be determined.

This was contained in a communique released after the meeting.

The communique signed by Emeka Inyama said: “As a result of unforeseen circumstances, the emergency Congress of NFF earlier proposed for Thursday, 31st July, 2014 but not convoked, will now be convened at a later date. Board apologised for any inconveniences caused members of the NFF Congress by the postponement.”