‘Buhari should intervene in NFF crisis now’
Following incessant attempts by Chris Giwa to take over the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Senior Special Assistant on Sports to Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi has said the time has come for President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the crisis that is threatening to destroy Nigerian football.
Giwa was arrested by the Nigeria Police last Friday when he went to the NFF headquarter in Abuja to familiarise himself with staff in the secretariat.
Although he denied being arrested by the Police, he did not deny that he was taken by the Police to the Wuse Zone 3 Police Division where he spent some hours before he was released.
Giwa is obviously trying to enforce the Jos High Court ruling of April 8 which sacked the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF Executive Committee and ordered him (Giwa) to take over the leadership of Nigerian football.
In his reaction, Kurfi said the crisis in the Nigerian football is taking a dangerous dimension that requires President Buhari to wield the big stick to restore order.
“This is the right time for Mr. President to wade into this crisis. He has to use his Presidential powers to call the warring factions to order.
“What is not in doubt is that two elections were held and two NFF presidents emerged. Since the two are not ready to make compromise for the good of Nigerian football, the President must do something.
“It is now clear that the minister lacks the capacity to bring this crisis to an end. The committee he has set up to reconcile the aggrieved parties is not going to achieve anything. It is only Mr. President who can bring back the lost sanity in Nigerian football,” he said.
Kurfi therefore said the President’s busy schedule should not stop him from saving Nigeria’s tool for unity and international diplomacy.