2022 NFF ELECTIONS: The Biggest Winners, The Biggest Losers
BIGGEST WINNERS
IBRAHIM GUSAU
This accountant rose from being an SA to former NFF President Aminu Maigari to going on to be the new President of the football federation. He was not seen by many as a front runner to succeed Amaju Pinnick in the hot seat, but he rode on the goodwill he has enjoyed since 2018, when he recorded a landslide victory over the billionanaire Ifeanyi Ubah to emerge as the Chairman of Chairmen. The so-called front runners literally banked on the power of the US Dollars they doled out to the delegates that at the end when they did not win, they came back and openly demanded for their refunds. Does he have the magic wand to turn the fortunes of Nigeria Football around?
OTUNBA DELE-AJAYI
Thrice the cabal forced him to stand for Elections for the Ondo FA Chairmanship and thrice he won. Another accountant, Otunba is now the power bloc of the South West after four of a possible seven delegates from that geo-political region voted for him to return to the Executive Committee. He took a gamble by going with the winning train and against the group that supported the Presidential ambitions of Seyi Akinwunmi, also from the South West.
AISHA FALODE
The former sports TV producer took a big chance to run for Elections after it was clear she could not continue as an “appointed” Member of the Executive Committee representing the women’s league. She enjoyed the full support of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, ensured she was nominated by her home state FA and that Edo FA boss Roland Abu step down for her. He also provided her with the resources to return to the Board. Today, she is “a real Stakeholder” (her own words).
FELIX ANYANSI
Anyansi has also staged a comeback to the NFF Executive Committee as NFF 1st Vice President and this is at a time when he has faced so much opposition over his continued stay as Chairman of NPFL side Enyimba. He previously headed the NFF Technical Committee and he will bring his wealth of experience to bear on a fairly new Board.
ABBA YOLA
He may have lost his second bid to be NFF President as well as his position as Chief of Staff to the Sports Minister Sunday Dare due to his conduct leading to the Elections, but at least the former Kano Pillars Chairman is 120 Million Naira richer thanks to the generosity of Kano Governor Umar Ganduje. Would he have hit such a jackpot while pushing files to the Honourable Minister?
BIGGEST LOSERS
SHEHU DIKKO (PICTURED at Benin City Elections)
In a space of a month, he lost the Chairmanship of the LMC, a third bid to be NFF President and his properties to the Federal Government through the anti-corruption agency ICPC, which has been invstigating him and other top NFF officials for alleged corruption. His 10-year stint, which left very little to be proud of, is also to be probed by the Government. He is back in the football wilderness he came from. He has many things to be very worried about today.
MOHAMMED SANUSI
He dared the Sports Ministry by turning down at least three invitations for a meeting with the Sports Minister. He said he is not an employee of the Government and after all he will outlive the Sports Minister on the job as President Buhari’s administration will terminate in May 2023, while he has a contract of $10,000-a-month till December 2023. Sanusi also faces a Contempt of Court after he failed to recognise Sanusi Mahmoud Mohammed as the duly elected Chairman of Taraba FA despite the judgment of a Federal High Court. He is also one of several officials who have been under investigation by the anti-graft agency ICPC and several of his properties will likely be seized, like the case with Shehu Dikko.
AHMED YUSF ‘FRESH’
He may be the new Chairman of Chairmen after he tricked his way to that position by swearing allegiance to the Gusau group, but when it came to crunch time he and his main allies Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna FA Chairmen voted Shehu Dikko. Several of the Presidential aspirants are now very much aware of hs double dealing ways. He is also one of the officials under investigation by ICPC and he too is liable to lose properties to the Government, while his future on the Executive Committee is now very much in doubt.
OBINNA OGBA
The ambition of the serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the NFF Executive Committee suffered a huge body blow when against most expectations he was defeated by Felix Anyansi for the post of NFF 1st Vice President. Close watchers said his fatal error of abandoning the winning train of the Gusau group to get the South East to go with Seyi Akinwunmi. His future in partisan politics is also in serious doubt as he is battling to be the next Governor of Ebonyi under the umbrella of PDP.
CHIKELUE ILOENYOSI
He was “appointed” Chairman of Anambra FA by former NFF President Amaju Pinnick after they combined to midwife a rival players’ union, ANFPU. Ironically, the newly elected President Gusau kicked against this appointment after he was the one who personally supervised the Elections in that particular afiliate. The former Super Eagles defender boasted prior to the Elections in Benin City that he will make public a video that allegedly showed Gusau in unethical conduct during the Anambra polls. Will Gusau now show the man who is happy to be called “General” who is really in charge?
TIMOTHY HENMAN MAGAJI
He practically bulldozed his way to the new NFF Executive Committee, but he cannot afford to be celebrating just yet. The legitimate Chairman of Taraba FA Sanusi Mahmoud Mohammed could challenge his nomination for this Election and added to this is that he is facing a criminal case in court for certificate forgery. He will be a Goner, should he be convicted.
