*As Galadima wants CAF to consider Nigeria’s leadership role in football

By Ime Bassey
As Nigerians await the fate of Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima in clinching the CAF Executive Committee seat vacated by his compatriot, Dr Amos Adamu at this year’s CAF congress holding in Khartoum Sudan, NFA President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has stated that the Association and Sports Ministry are putting all the machinery  in place to ensure a positive outcome at the election.

The NFA chief who told Saturday Vanguard sports that all the sporting agencies in the country are fully committed to the course, said preparations are in top gear as  the federal government, the Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commissions, the Director General of the National Sports Commission and the NFA are all committed to the course with a firm belief that God will be on their side.

A delegation headed by the minister of sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja left for Khartoum Wednesday to be part of the congress and other activities that need attention while a  good number of the federation’s members would join them before the actual date of the election.

Galadima

On the issue of Alhaji Galadima not being briefed on the modalities put in place by the NFFA and the sports ministry, Alhaji Maigari said “I am shocked to hear this kind of story from the press. I have been speaking with Ibrahim Galadima, and we even spoke this morning. However, the minister spoke with him this morning which I am aware of. He is fully briefed on all we intend do in Khartoum. I would want to believe it’s a  media propaganda.

In an election, you cannot say you are late or the time available would make you not to win. When you are going for an election in this kind of terrain, everybody has his strategy of clinching the ticket, I would not want to start announcing our game plan to the public but I believe with God on our side we will come out victorious,” Maigari said.

However, reacting on his chances, expectations and the effect of Adamu on his elections, Alhaji Galadima said Adamu’s ban could weigh against his campaign but would not reduce his chances, as he further appealed to Nigerians to put behind them the past so that the country’s football could move forward.

“There are no two ways about it. The issue is that everybody knows the extent of damage caused by the suspension, it is so enormous but it has not completely reduced our chances. The point is that we should not crucify the country just because of the sins of one person. Let us put that behind us and move on for the benefit of the nation

My position is that of the federal government. Therefore, Nigeria through its agencies, the sports ministry and NFA have the responsibility to send a candidate to CAF for election, so they know the sensitivity of the seat.

I am sure that they are doing everything they can so it would be a success. Mine is just to go and show my face and do whatsoever they ask me to do, Galadima said.

On his chances in the election, the Kano State born sports administrator said the level of Nigerians’ involvement in world and African football would cause our African brothers to consider us in giving us the seat to further carry the flag of the continent.

Well of cause, Africa knows the contributions, quality and role of Nigerian in the world of football, I believe they would want to still give us that opportunity to continue playing that role in Africa. We expect consideration from them.  We have been in the forefront of playing football as well as assisting CAF in ensuring that Africa produces the best talent of footballers in the world. We hope they would appreciate this and give us their support.