Veteran broadcaster and former chairman of Sokoto State Football Association (FA), Mallam Danladi Bako, has endorsed Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi as the right person to succeed to Amaju Pinnick as the next president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), saying he is an outstanding personality that can take Nigeria’s football to where Nigerians all desire.
Speaking recently at the official launch of Akinwunmi’s manifesto and campaign in Abuja, Bako said the NFF affairs is about competence and not issue nor politics of where anyone comes from.
“I’m from the north and I have endorsed Seyi. NFF affairs have never been an issue or politics of where anyone comes from. It’s about competence and my conscience tells me that Seyi is eminently an outstanding personality that can take Nigerian football to where we all desire.”
“Seyi is one man we respect so much,” he continued. “That is why those who decide our fate in Nigerian football, the congressmen are present here. They have a choice to make whenever the time comes as to who they endorse but by being present here, it has given support to Seyi.”
Underlining the spirit in which football unifies Nigeria and his support and that of other people means for Akinwunmi, Bako said: “If I and those of us who don’t want to bring politics of region and ethnicity into the elections are supporting him, what else? What goes around will come around. Once upon a time you had Alhaji Galadima, followed by Sani Lulu followed by Aminu Maigari. One stretch of three chairmen from the North, so why didn’t you complain at that time? So if you follow my drift I am looking for the merit and the best material.”
“I want a president that will use our money judiciously and is accountable. I want a president that will take care of all national teams without giving excuses of no money.
“I want a president who will not only attract sponsorship or engage coaches, but disclose the terms and any contract contents to Nigerians.”
I want a president who will re-engineer Nigerian football from the grassroots.
“Whoever wins this election, I beg everyone to support him… I’m very much confident that Akinwunmi will win based on his track record. Anyone who can effectively manage Lagos FA, a Lagos with over 20 million population, a population of another African country, can do very well as president of NFF. So Seyi has a lot to offer.”
As the date for NFF elective congress draws near, most football stakeholders and observers seem to consider Akinwunmi as the front runner and most certain of the top job in Nigerian football – if the outcome were based solely on merit.
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