Ex-players protest DSS siege to NFF secretariat

A group representing retired and active footballers yesterday in Abuja urged the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to order an immediate withdrawal of securitymen from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat.

The group was led by Harrison Jalla, President of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF), as well as Victor Baribote, a former Second VicePresident of NFF.

It argued that the presence of men of the Department of State Security (DSS) at the Glass House at Wuse Zone 7 in Abuja was inimical to football development.

During a peaceful protest at the NFF Secretariat, just before the gates leading to the Glass House, the group described the development as a violation of the rule of law.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Nigeria is a creation of law, DSS should obey the laws of the land” and “FG, sack DSS Director of Operations”.

Other placards bore inscriptions such as “Osinbajo, direct DSS to follow rule of law, our laws are being disobeyed” and “Tell DSS to obey rule of law”.

Addressing sports journalists thereafter, Jalla noted that the continued presence of DSS in the NFF Secretariat was an affront on the Nigeria Constitution.

Jalla restated the call for their withdrawal of DSS personnel, saying it was time to uphold the tenets of the country’s law, and warning that failure to do so could lead to “anarchy”.

“There will be anarchy if by tomorrow (Thursday) they (DSS personnel) don’t leave here,” he said. (NAN)