President Goodluck Jonathan and NFA Board members at Aso Rock yesterday

By Ben Efe
President Goodluck Jonathan backed down from his stance on the two-year ‘no competitions’ order for all the national teams, because he was begged by members of the Nigeria Football Federation and not because FIFA threatened to sanction Nigeria.

Jonathan was determined to clear the rot at the football house not minding the fall-outs. But it took several hours of pleading by concerned football enthusiasts including members of the NFF last Monday in Abuja make the President change his mind, just before the 17.00 hours deadline given by FIFA to the Nigeria to stop the seeming interference in football matters.

“It was not the threat by FIFA that made Jonathan to change his mind. He was dead serious about his order, this is because of the way the 2010 World Cup was prosecuted by the NFF despite the huge amount of funds made available.

“We pleaded with Mr. President. We appealed with him to reconsider his position because of the game and interest of Nigeria, which the president accepted,” said Obinna Ogba a member of the NFF.

He was one of the nine who impeached Sani Lulu, Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi. He said that the action did not impress the President, who wanted a total cleansing of Nigeria football.

“We managed to carry on, pleading with him, but I believe the only thing that made it work was God.”