A Presidential hopeful in today’s election of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Mike Umeh has declared that if elected into office, he would continue to chart the course of harmonious relationship with the government of the day, without infringing on the FIFA statutes.

Speaking in a chat with journalist, just before he departed for Warri yesterday, Chief Umeh said his regime would ask the National Sports Commission for a desk officer at the Glass House as this would ensure the cementing of smooth relationship between the NSC and the NFF.

“We would operate an open system where transparency and accountability would hold sway. The desk officer from the NSC/Ministry will be part of the daily dealings, particularly, how the finances will be spent and for what they are being expended,” Umeh said.

“The era of financial profligacy is over. Mine would be a regime of accountability and transparency.”
He added that his administration would be all-embracing. “I will operate an open door policy and an all-inclusive administration, where stake holders will be duly recognised and a given roles to play.

We have been doing that in the last four years. Ex-internationals have been very busy in the last four years, and my regime will encourage more of them to come out and contribute their quotas to the development of the game in our country.”

The former chairman of Rangers International said he would like to see more of the ex-internationals as coaches, and he will have more of them in the technical committee and,as he put it, “I will push more of them into marketing.”

He is confident, he will win at the poll. “I will provide the smoothest transition because continuity is the best way to sustain Nigeria’s gains in international football,” Umeh enthused.