BY JOHN EGBOKHAN
Chairman of the Delta State Football Association (DFA) Pinnick Amaju has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything possible to ensure that FIFA lifts its suspension on Nigeria today.

Speaking against the backdrop of FIFA’s deadline(which is today) for Nigeria to reinstate the Aminu Maigari-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation or face an indefinite ban, which will effectively rule out the Falconets from featuring in next month’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, Amaju begged President Jonathan to direct the National Sports Commission to do the needful by doing what FIFA wants.

“I am on my knees begging President Jonathan to call all parties to order and reinstate the board of the NFF led by Aminu Maigari because that is the condition FIFA gave for our suspension to be lifted. We must think of the players and the youths, who are the ones that will suffer if this ban is not lifted today.. The ban will affect our girls who are supposed to play in the Women’s World Cup next month. This is not good for these players who depend on football to survive.

“Let us reinstate the board and get FIFA off our back. By August, the elections will hold and those who want a change of guards, will get the chance to elect the people they want into the board of the NFF. It is a case of no victor, no vanquished”, said Amaju.

“In fact, Maigari should always respect the NSC as represented by the Minister of Sports, Dr Tamuno Danagogo, who is the eyes of President Jonathan in sports. Respect is respect and I sincerely expect Maigari to realise that the NSC has always supported him and therefore, it is necessary for him to show respect to them”.

While commending President Jonathan for his visionary role in piloting Nigerian football to high places, Amaju, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, said that a FIFA ban would dent whatever achievements the President would have recorded during his tenure.

“Whatever achievements that Nigerian football has recorded in the last five years is down to the fact that President Jonathan has actively supported the growth of sports. Mr. President is not just passionate about sports development, he is an active promoter and developer of sports. I am on my knees appealing to Mr President to please wade into this matter so that our suspension by FIFA can be lifted because this suspension, if allowed to stay, will terribly alter the gains which we have made under the leadership of Mr. President”, said Amaju.

He traced the root of the suspension to ego problem, pointing out that it was time all parties sheathed their swords and return to the drawing table to chart a sustainable development course for Nigerian football.

While tongue-lashing those fanning the embers and positioning themselves for a takeover of the NFF board, Amaju said that the antecedents of those masquerading as defenders of Nigerian football are well known by Nigerians, warning that they would be fiercely resisted by well-meaning stakeholders from further devaluing our football.