Pinnick's FIFA Council Seat: Ministry of Sports And FIFA Conspiracy

  Pinnick's FIFA Council Seat: Ministry of Sports And FIFA Conspiracy By Niyi Busari Congratulatory messages have not ceased to pour in following the feat achieved by the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick becoming the third Nigerian to be voted into the FIFA Council Seat. Amaju Pinnick defeated Malawian FA president, Walter Nyamilandu, by 43 votes to eight during the Caf General Assembly held in Rabat on Friday 12 March, 2021. Before the election, many football stakeholders and followers across the world had believed that Pinnick following his antecedents will not pass the FIFA and Federal Government integrity tests. But they were surprised to see Amaju Pinnick cleared by FIFA and the massive support by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria. FIFA and Nigeria government had on several occasions reiterated their stance against corruption. In fact, former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter was removed following Corruption allegations and APC led Nigeria government's mantra is zero tolerance against corruption which helped them into power in 2015. Pinnick being cleared by the FIFA Ethics Committee to contest following a lengthy and extensive scrutiny of his candidacy by the world football body was a shock to some football stakeholders. This is because FIFA who claimed to frown against corrupt individuals in their Central Review 2015 - Key Findings Report on how Two million and five hundred thousand dollars ($2.5m) FAP money were spent, detected misuse of funds by the Amaju Pinnick-led administration and stopped payment of FIFA Assisted Program (FAP) funds to Nigeria. The money meant for the development of grassroots football. The FIFA decision follows withdrawal of Two million and five hundred thousand dollars ($2.5m) by Pinnick led administration. The previous two NFF Presidents (Sani Lulu and Aminu Maigari) had saved the funds with FIFA with the sole aim of building a befiting Headquarters for the Federation. However, Pinnick, after came into power in 2015 withdrew the whole money and not used for building of federation's headquarters. FIFA statement after investigation reads; "NFF made all disbursement from FIFA Development Programmes in cash. Specifically, NFF issued the cash to its employees in charge of individual FIFA Programmes. In reviewing the dedicated account, nine cases totalling USD 802,000 were identified where there was no supporting documentation to substantiate the subsequent disbursement. Therefore, as a corrective measures, unsupported expenses will be deducted from the future Forward Programme payments." In the same vein, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Nigeria anti-corruption agency, on September 13, 2019 sealed the properties of the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick following alleged corruption. Also, few days before Ministry of Sports announced the Federal Government support for Pinnick, the Nigeria Police Force and ICPC among others wrote to the Ministry of Sports on several corruption allegations against Pinnick. Despite this obvious reasons for FIFA, the Ministry of Sports as well as Federal Government not to associate themselves with Pinnick, it was a rude shock that the trio swept it under the carpet for him to have his way. The consequence of this is that, Amaju Pinnick like the former Nigeria representative in FIFA Council may end up disgracing Nigeria again. Recall that Amos Adamu was removed  from FIFA Council Seat because of Corruption. Some football stakeholders including former Super Eagles coach who doubles as Member FIFA Technical Committee, Sunday Oliseh has warned that Nigeria should not expect any development of football under Pinnick as NFF president and Member FIFA Council. He argued that he is there for personal and not national interest. He said: “As an individual, I think it is great for President Amaju Pinnick that he has gotten that vote into the council. I think it is very good for him. But as a nation – Nigeria, it does not make any difference. I am a member of the FIFA Technical Committee for eight years.” He continued: “We as a technical committee propose changes from the technical side of how football should be developed. But at the end of the day, everything proposed has to be sanctioned by the executive group. We only propose. This council has so many people in it. They vote and talk about an issue, but at the end of the day, the executive committee decides. It is good for Pinnick, no doubt, I am happy for him, but for Nigeria, it doesn’t make any difference.”