Pinnick, Shehu Dikko Not The Problem of Nigeria Football - Dalung

Pinnick, Shehu Dikko Not The Problem of Nigeria Football - Dalung

By Niyi Busari - Editor in Chief, BSN Sports

The immediate past minister of youth and sports development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has said that the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick and the second vice president, Shehu Dikko are not the problem of Nigerian football, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

Dalung said the problem of Nigeria started in 2005 when the then Chairman, Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Ibrahim Galadima was illegally removed from office and Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, (which has not been domesticated in the country) and its statute was smuggled and imposed on Nigeria.

According to nigeriafootballer.com, "In December 2005, Galadima called for elections in Kano, his home city and the elections conducted by Nduka Irabor was said to be the freest and fairest which Galadima won. Backed by the Sports minister, Samaila Sambawa and recognized by FIFA, the
stakeholders fought on and Amos Adamu was “contracted” to put the final mail on the coffin. FIFA secretary, Urs Linsi was allegedly compromised and he agreed to and backed a
kangaroo congress in Abuja that removed Galadima. In July 2006, Sani Lulu (Director of Sports FCT) polled 75 out of 97 votes as the
new NFA chairman, Lumumba Adeh was second with 16votes while Segun Odegbami had 6votes."

The former minister insisted that Nigeria football is having leadership problem because structural defect and the system created loopholes for them to add to the existing problems. Though, he did not totally exonerate the federation chieftains saying that they hide under the structural defect and the Nigeria system to add the foundational challenges which according to him make the matter worsen the situation and bring the game to its knee.

Dalung said that changing the leadership in the federation will not solve the problem until the structural defect is corrected