Maigari resumes, says ‘no victor, no vanquished’

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, returned to office Monday and pledged to work with other stakeholders in the game ahead the coming elections into the executive committee.

Last Friday, Maigari was asked to return to office by minister of sports, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, in line with FIFA’s directive.

“There is no victor and no vanquished,” Maigari said as he settled back in office.

“We must all come together in the interest of the Nigeria game. We are all adults and we must have differences, but I am happy that those differences are now in the past and we are now of the same accord.”

The 58-year-old former school teacher arrived at the NFF Secretariat and met Chief Mike Umeh, Hon. Shehu Adamu and Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, some of his board members.

After hours of deliberation, chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, disclosed that the interest of Nigeria football had prevailed.

“We are one big family, as we have always been. There were disagreements and misunderstanding for a number of weeks, but FIFA has cleared the air and the government has weighed in on the side of FIFA,” Inyama said.

“In the interest of the game in Nigeria, we have all resolved to bury our differences and rather work towards evolving a roadmap for the coming elections. There will be a meeting of the executive committee on Tuesday, August 19.”

Stephen Keshi’s contract agreement will most likely be the top agenda as the team’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying race begins with the game against Congo on September 6 in Calabar.