As the D-day for elections of the new sets of men and women to run Nigeria’s football for the next four years draw closer, stakeholders have identified Abba Abdullahi Yola, chief of staff to the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare, as a worthy sports administrator and system stabilizer that should be entrusted to the steer Nigeria’s football administration after Amaju Pinnick.
Former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima and chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League Club Owners Association, Barrister Isaac Danladi, gave the verdict at the formal declaration by Abba Yola to run for the office of the president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the September 30th elections in Benin, Edo State.
Galadima who chaired the occasion held in Abuja, said Yola has enjoyed the privileges of working with several sports ministers and has enriched knowledge on the workings system of the sector, adding that his loyalty and dedication to service were outstanding attributes that stands out among other candidates seeking to succeeding to Amaju Pinnick whose second term in office end this month.
Barrister Isaac Danladi in his goodwill message said Abba is a resilient sports administrator and system stabiliser.
“I appreciate Abba Yola for what he has been doing for football in Nigeria. He is a highly respected member of the society and a system stabiliser,” Dandladi said.
Former general-secretary of the defunct NFA now NFF, Fanny Amun, in his remarks believed the chief of staff to minister has an edge over other contestants for the office of NFF president.
He however cautioned Abba Yola and others seeking the presidency of Africa’s largest football governing body to refrain from destructive actions that could ruin the system.
Yola, while declaring his intention to contest the NFF presidency, pledged to return Nigerian football back to the zenith of the game.
He said he would sponsor a motion to pass a vote of no confidence in his leadership if he failed to fulfill his promise when elected as NFF president.
Yola, who was the chairman of Kano Pillars FC, promised to appoint more deputy secretaries to help the secretary general, saying that such deputies would be sent to head the various 18 Federation’s standing committees to ensure smooth administration of football.
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