How Ex-international Can Become NFF President - Ex-2nd Vice President

How Ex-international Can Become NFF President - Ex-2nd Vice President

By Niyi Busari

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Second Vice President, Rumson Victor Baribote has said that the Federation statute needs to adjusted to allow equal representation at the polls, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

There are 44 delegates eligible to vote for a president to emerge. The State Football Association has 37 votes leaving just seven to other four constituencies.

The former Nigeria Professional League (NPL) Chairman in an exclusive interview with BSN Sports reiterated that equal representation of each of the five constituencies is the only Way an ex-international can become the President. "In the constitution of Nigeria, you must have a number of two-third before you can be declared president. So when we have equal representation , either you like it or not, you will see sentiment is ruling everywhere. 

He added, "If I'm contesting from the platform of FA, every FA will want to rally round me because it comes from their constituency. Now, we're saying that we must be equal, so that we can have order.

He continued, "So it will come with popularity and passion you have for it. At that point, if you look at it from another way, if you aren't a Journalist, can you be a member of Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ? If you aren't a Governor, can you be the chairman of the Governor's forum? What we are simply saying is that, we aren't saying that other stakeholders shouldn't come in but the people who are directly affected are the players.

"Let us come to Nigeria, if you see other federations, who are the ones heading it, are they not ex-internationals? Only few ones is been managed by outsiders. Why is it different with our football? 

Let those that owns come and manage it and let's see whether they will destroy what belongs to them. 

"Yes those that are there too don't have managerial skills.

So, many ex-players have managed clubs, even if the ex-players didn't manage clubs what about those that are there who didn't do well?

"Is it not when they handle the affairs we know they can't do well, so give them the opportunity to handle affairs. You can't judge us when we haven't been given the opportunity.

You can't conclude if you haven't given the person the opportunity to do the act. 

"The issue of 44 delegates, I don't know how to put it.

It's against the section 42 of the constitution which talks about discrimination. If the constitution and that of the NFF statue are in agreement, means the 44 delegates belonging to the FA can't stand. It's unfortunate that they don't really understand and they don't belong to the players. So because those who are benefiting from other people's sweat don't complain doesn't mean you that have the energy will not complain. 

The money they are giving to Pinnick comes from the players because companies coming to sponsor football came because of the players. If there are no players, fifa, Government and companies won't release money and administrators won't have money to spend. Meaning that the players are the materials, ingredients they are using, so which are been used and not recognize. 

"The FA, what's their contribution? Their own is to organize. The money they use to organize come from this players they want to organize. So since we are benefiting from where you don't work, do you also complain?

"That's the reason why the players that have been used tell you is enough that we are been used enough. We want to manage our affair. We want equal contribution. 

The players are the most important ingredients in the game call football. 

"As long as that matter remain in court, there will be no congress. The court has the right to direct the delegate to amend the constitution. The court will direct them to go and do what's right.