The September 30 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elective Congress slated for Benin City, Edo State, may not hold following threat by a group of stakeholders to blow up the venue of the congress if their demands are not met.
The group in a letter dated August 7, 2022 and addressed to the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare and the president of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, warned that many lives will be lost if the NFF go ahead with the elective congress as planned in Benin.
The letter which was signed by the secretary of the group, Dogogo Johnbull, read: “We write to ask for the cancellation of NFF Elections in Benin City, Edo State on 30th of September, 2022. This is so because of the atrocities committed by the present board.
“Embezzlement and fraud committed by the Amaju Pinnick led board with various cases pending at the ICPC and EFCC. “Refusal to carry various Players unions and so many stakeholders along in the intended elections.
“Blatant refusal to adjust the statute to accommodate all intending stakeholders to come to the board.”
“In view of the above, we asked that the Elections be stopped till such a time all reforms are carried out.”
“Refusal to adhere to our warming will be met with very serious consequence s, we will not hesitate to bomb and bring down the venue of the elections and blood will flow. Your agreement to the cancellation will save many lives.”
NFF, rising from its 77th Annual General Assembly in Lagos, fixed its Elective Congress to hold in Benin City, Edo State on 30th September, 2022 but that now seems very unlikely.
One of the aspirants at the upcoming NFF poll, who spoke on condition of anonymity, rued the ministry’s inability to take action, despite the group’s warning.
He said, “This is terrorism just because of a football election. And the ministry, a government agency, acknowledges and accepts such a letter without calling the agencies that should nip this threat in the bud.
“The letter has a name, an address and a telephone number and they warned that blood will flow in another state, that they will bomb the election venue and you acknowledge that kind of letter without taking action?
“My anger is not even towards those who wrote the letter but the government agency who received the letter and has done nothing.”
However, media aide to the sports minister, Toyin Ibitoye, said, the ministry would channel the letter to the appropriate quarters.
“That (ministry) stamp (on the letter) is for the registry of the Minister’s Office, all letters go there but those who send such letters may remain unknown.
“I am sure the relevant security agencies will know how to respond to it.”
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