BY OKEY NDIRIBE
The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi has said he would explore alternative options resolving the protracted crisis in the nation’s football if his present conciliatory approach fails.

The minister stated this at the inauguration of a ministerial coordinating committee for Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the London 2012 Olympic Games on Friday. He further stated that he is currently holding talks with the warring groups in the nation’s football house with a view to resolving the internal squabbles.

He explained that at a recent meeting in Lagos, he told stakeholders that the crisis, which is politically motivated, would be politically resolved to pave way for the development of the game in Nigeria.

Said he: “As you are all aware, I had a meeting in Lagos last Wednesday with all football stakeholders to discuss the lingering issue. At that meeting, I told them that the issue with the NFA is not technical, but political, it is not because of technical or legal incompetence, so we have to find a way to negotiate and bring the warring factions on board.

“It is not as if we don’t have that courage to wake up one day and do something, but it is better to explore the peaceful means. However, if given the little time that we have, we are unable to resolve it through peaceful means, then we will have to explore the alternative arrangement. We are working on this and I believe we are going to resolve the issue, ” he stressed.

Speaking further, the minister assured all NFA and NPL partners and sponsors that any contract legally and properly entered into would be honoured.