Wikki Tourists Move to Unite Supporters, Target NPFL Return

Wikki Tourists have begun moves to unite the club’s various supporters’ groups under a single umbrella as part of efforts to rebuild the Bauchi-based side and secure a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Interim Sole Administrator of the club, Alhaji Haruna Bako, disclosed this during an interactive meeting with representatives of the various supporters’ clubs at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, on Monday.

Bako said the initiative was designed to end the fragmentation among the club’s supporters and create a unified platform capable of providing stronger backing for the team.

“The essence of this meeting is to bring all the supporters’ clubs together so that we can have one team and one supporters’ club,” he said.

“Before now, there were about three, four or even more than five different supporters’ clubs in the division. We want to bring them together as one, so that we can cheer Wikki whenever the team is playing and have one aim, one goal and one target.”

He expressed confidence that the initiative would succeed, adding that all stakeholders must work together to reposition the club.

As part of the process, Bako said an election would be conducted to produce a unified leadership for the supporters’ organisation.

“We have already discussed this. One of the things we are going to do is organise and conduct an election to produce the leadership of the unified supporters’ club,” he said.

The administrator also disclosed plans to financially support the new supporters’ leadership, with about N2 million expected to be made available initially to enable it to carry out its activities.

Bako urged the supporters to remain disciplined and committed as the club seeks an immediate return to the NPFL following its relegation at the end of the 2025/26 season.

He stressed that the management, players, officials and supporters must operate as one family if Wikki Tourists are to regain their top-flight status.

The club’s Team Manager, Yakubu Yankari, also briefed the gathering on preparations for the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign and appealed to supporters to maintain their cooperation with the management.

The club’s Security Coordinator, DSP Musari Musa (rtd.), called for responsible behaviour among supporters before, during and after matches.

He urged them to respect security personnel, match officials, opposing teams and fellow spectators, warning that discipline and sportsmanship were essential to creating a safe environment for the club’s matches.

Veteran football administrator and sports journalist, Malam Mainasara Ilo, also participated in the discussions.

The meeting was attended by the club’s appointed marketers from Lagos and Abuja, who were in Bauchi to discuss strategies with the management and state government for improving Wikki Tourists’ commercial, marketing and revenue-generating prospects.

Other notable attendees included former President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, DIG Sani Mohammed (rtd.), and Secretary of the Bauchi State Football Association, Bashir Idris.

Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Wikki Tourists Supporters Club, Malam Garba Gamawa, welcomed the initiative and pledged the supporters’ full cooperation.

The participants subsequently held open discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the unity and image of the club.

Wikki Tourists were relegated from the NPFL at the end of the 2025/26 season, prompting Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed to dissolve the club’s management committee.

The governor subsequently appointed Bako, a former Bauchi State Director of Sports, as interim sole administrator pending the constitution of a substantive management committee.

Bako was mandated to take charge of the club’s administration, oversee the handover of its operations, assets, records and liabilities, and begin the process of repositioning the team for a successful NNL campaign and an immediate return to the NPFL.