No Going Back on 8 Teams Promotion, Olopade Threatens LMC, NPFL Club Owners

No Going Back on 8 Teams Promotion, Olopade Threatens LMC, NPFL Club Owners By Adewale Ajayi Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National League, NNL, Bukola Olopade, in a telephone conversation with Nigeria Sports mouthpiece NSM, regrets the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation in our football but insists that there is no going back on the resolution reached at the NNL congress in Abuja. After the NFF board meeting in Asaba, the Nigeria Football Federation mandated NNL chairman Chidi Ofor Okenwa to immediately convene a congress of stakeholders and take a decision that will be ratified by the executive committee as they seek to find a lasting solution to the logham that has seemingly held domestic football in the country to a standstill following the unfortunate decision to end the NPFL season abruptly on week 24. At that meeting, the NNL took the decision not to go ahead with the Super 8 which could have paved way for the best four teams to get promoted to the NPFL, Instead, they have decided that all eight teams must get promoted under the present circumstances. In supporting their position, the NNL said the congress of the NPFL did not consult them before arriving at the decision not to relegate any team, meaning they never recognized the fact that whatever decision they took, will have a direct bearing on the NNL. Based on that, the NNL has decided to press the war button as they intend to go toe to toe with the LMC, organisers of the NPFL on this matter. “We cannot be made to swallow their vomit, Olopade said. We have taken our decision and they must learn to live with it. “At the last NFF meeting in Asaba, they asked that we go and take a decision in the best interest of the game and whatever decision we take, they will approve. We have done just that and we see no reason why anyone will want to go contrary.” “If anything is done, different from the decision reach by the NNL congress in Abuja, I, Bukola Olopade will activate my earlier resignation from the position of chief executive officer, CEO of the NNL with immediate effect.” Perhaps you don’t know that i resigned five months ago but was persuaded to stay on by my good friend Amaju Pinnick, till the end of the season. I have been asking a few questions and will not stop asking. 1. Why did the LMC end the league to go Russia for the World Cup? 2. Why on earth did they decide to end the season abruptly? 3. Why did they decide not to relegate any of the 20 teams in the division and why didnt they consult us know we are partners in progress? 4. Why must the NNL bear the brunt of their actions or inactions? 5. Where did the NNL go wrong in all of these? “It is only when they provide answers to my many questions that i will take them serious, if not, we stand by our decision to promote eight teams and there is no going back on that,” he concluded.