NFF presidential election: The 5 men and their mission

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections hold on September 30 in Warri, Delta State.

As the race to replace incumbent president, Aminu Maigari, reaches its final lap, we present, in their words, what looks like a manifesto of some of the candidates eyeing the plum job.

Unique Selling Proposition

Before you can begin to sell your service to anyone else, you have to sell yourself on it.

The factor or consideration presented by the aspirants to the Glass House as the reason that one person’s service is different from and better than that of the competition is the Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

MIKE UMEH, NFF 1ST VP AND ANAMBRA FA CHAIR

Experience managing the team

I was team manager of the famous class of 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and went to the World Cup in USA.

I am also part of the success story of the Alhaji Aminu Maigari golden era where we are African champions and also world champions in the U-17 category. We surpassed the achievements of all the previous boards.

Nigerian League

Our board will ensure we consolidate on the success recorded by the League Management Company (LMC) and reposition the Nigerian professional league.

Clubs must ensure the players who are the key in the administration of the game are well taken care of. Our league must grow and that means we must add value to it in order to attract wider interests.

It is a policy we started and I hope to build on. Ex-footballers, coaches and those I consider as elders in the game won’t be left out.

Best man for the job

Being an incumbent vice president of the best NFF board with the best record, it only sounds logical that I declare myself the best candidate among those gunning for the NFF presidency because the transition will be smooth and the winning aura will continue when I eventually take over.

TAIWO OGUNJOBI, OSUN FA CHAIRMAN AND FORMER NFF SG

Crisis resolution

It is because we are not united that crises come up all the time. If we have a united body, there will be understanding.

Football issues should be settled amicably by stakeholders not in the law courts and by government. I have a good relationship with a good number of people in the football family and this will be enough to unite all of us.

Boost sponsorship drive

Nigeria got the sponsorship when I was in office as secretary-general and if elected, I will ensure we retain the Adidas deal and I will bring in more international sponsors for the federation.

There is need to get sponsors to enable the NFF to run programmes and achieve independence to a large extent.

AMAJU PINNICK, CHAIRMAN, DELTA STATE FA 

Create an atmosphere of stability and peace

One of my main policy trusts if elected the president of the NFF is to create an atmosphere of stability and peace through various developmental models. Reduce to appropriate level litigation and cases involving the NFF. And very importantly, encourage a genuine but robust relationship between the NFF and all stakeholders.

Manpower and technical development

It is my wish that in four years’ time, Nigeria will have a FIFA World Cup referee, one that will make us all of us proud with his professionalism.

We built a N200m state-of-the-art Delta FA secretariat named Patrick Okpomo Football House through 100 per cent private sector initiative. I believe it is possible at the national level to seek private sector participation in football development.

SHEHU DIKKO, CHAIRMAN, NFF FIRST INSTANCE BODY (FIB)

Functional website

I want to have a platform where I will be able to relate with the football fans out there. I want them to know what is on my mind about Nigerian football and I also want to get their feedback. That is the hallmark of good administration, getting to know how people feel out there and getting meaningful suggestions because no one knows it all.

It is instructive to note that the NFF doesn’t even have an official website. Things have to change. We have to change the dimension of Nigerian football so as to attract more corporate involvement. I have been at the centre of most private sector initiatives in Nigerian football for the past 10 years and that is what I am bringing to the NFF. You will remember that I initiated the summer visit of Manchester United and Portsmouth to Nigeria in 2008. Those are the type of initiatives that will boost Nigerian football.

Financial autonomy

If elected president, my administration plans to drive for financial autonomy for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through innovative commercial programmes.

We will therefore encourage private sector participation at all levels, while also establishing a true and collaborative partnership with the government.

Aggressive marketing and business programme

This will take into account the need for the NFF to get maximum revenues from their commercial properties, exploit opportunities to substantially increase revenues from television broadcast of the federation’s various competitions as well as set up a licensing and merchandising project for the country’s national team.

DOMINIC IORFA, EX-NFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Tap in on wealth of experience

All my life, I have been involved in football both as a player and an administrator for many years now. I am also a good coach. You know that one does not require to bag professorial degree or acquire all the academic qualification to run football efficiently.

It requires experience and I have gathered such experience for many years, both as player, coach and administrator. I have the idea of what it takes to run Nigerian football, especially as the Glass House is not a new terrain for me, having been there in the past.

THE ‘INEC’

The NFF inaugurated the new electoral and appeals committees in consonance with FIFA’s guidelines ahead of the election.

The members are Samson Ebomhe, M. T. Ahmed, Adamu Sani Osmond, Sadiq Yusuf Zaria, Onyeaghala Obioma, Adeola Adelanwa, Sani Dahiru Yakassai, Sarah Jumoke Adebisi and Awwal Abdullahi.

The secretary is Musa Amadu, NFF’s general secretary.

The members of the electoral appeals committee are Okey Ajunwa, Dotun Coker and Sani Mohammed.

Substitute members are Victor Nwangwu and Bala Garba.

The secretary is Mohammed Sanusi, NFF’s director of competitions.

Members of the two committees were elected at the extra-ordinary general assembly on Saturday September 20, in Warri.