By Onome Osunbor
I read with total disgust and dismay the news as reported in some national dailies of the serious plot to remove the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Dr. Patrick Ekeji by some aggrieved parties following his firm belief in the tenets of free and fair elections into the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) board rather than anointing a particular candidate as proposed by these parties.

I am particularly peeved that in this era when the campaign of ‘One man, One Vote’ or Every Vote Must Count’ is fast gaining prominence that some selfish individuals who do not wish Nigeria Football well are perfecting ways of hand picking members of the incoming NFA executive board.

These groups of people, who the dailies reported, are working with some people in the corridors of power, are the true enemies of Nigeria’s football. They are more interested in feathering their nests rather than ensuring the growth of Nigeria’s football.
Instead of these enemies of progress to embrace the new policy of excellence which the Director-General is working assiduously to bring to bear on football administration in Nigeria, they are busy concocting ways of removing him from office.

Dr Ekeji is working hard to evolve a well structured guideline for free and fair elections not only into the board of the NFA but into all the various boards of Sports Federations under the National Sports Commission with a view to ensuring that only seasoned technocrats are elected to manage football business in Nigeria.

A free and fair election into the NFA executive board as advocated by the Director-General would allow every stakeholder who is truly passionate about football to determine the make-up and future policy direction of Nigeria’s football.

It would increase the likelihood of peaceful transition of power instead of this ‘do or die’ trend that has for long been the bane of the growth and development of football in Nigeria. A free and fair election as proposed by Dr Ekeji, would ensure a universal suffrage for all eligible candidates to vote and be voted for and it would entrench the doctrine or culture of excellence in football administration.

What this means, is that, it would no longer be business as usual for those who believe that they are bigger than Nigeria and can use their personal influence and godfathers to clinch power which they most certainly in every ramification do not deserve.

After the impeachment of the erstwhile top hierarchy of the NFA board, Nigerians were given a promise by the Caretaker Committee that they were going to give equal opportunity to every Nigerian to participate in the election of a new board.

They swore on their honour to conduct a transparent election into the board. It is most disturbing that rather than hold fast to their integrity, if there is any word like that in the NFA, it is fast seeking ways of taking the nation’s football back to the trench. This, certainly, is not fair to the good people of Nigeria who are very passionate about football.

Having been a chief player in sports administration in Nigeria for over one or two decades, Dr Ekeji is indeed a veteran sports administrator whose opinion should be courted and respected for the interest of the development of football.

Rather than cook-up ways of persecuting the D-G, he should be commended for his stance and commitment to the growth of football in Nigeria. This concerted effort to pull him down is a clear indication that some people are afraid of his stance. My question now, is who is afraid of Patrick Ekeji?

For those routing for his removal, I leave you with this Bible quotation “Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-mediate on these things. (Philippians 4:8).

Onome Osunbor wrote from Garki Abuja