Iyke Igbokwe, former vice chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee, has called for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari in the leadership crisis threatening Nigerian football.
Igbokwe said that the only way out of the crisis was for the president to listen to Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa, on the premise that they were ready and willing to discuss with the relevant authorities.
“Before we can get out of this NFF crisis, I think it requires mediation from higher authority. “I am talking of the authority that the Giwa group will respect.
I am talking of the authority coming from Mr. President himself. If he shows interest, he will delegate the Vice President, who is a lawyer of international repute to mediate.
“Nigerian citizen has the right to go to court and seek redress on any injustice, so Giwa is right to go to court as a Nigerian citizen. Though, we know that football matters are not always taking to court. So when you have this kind of clash, what do you do? You mediate.
He said there would be no end to the crisis if the president does not intervene. “There is no way we are going to step out of this quagmire if Mr. President does not step in just like former President, Goodluck Jonathan did. he said.
“So Buhari cannot sit down and said he would not interfere in what is happening because football is what unites Nigerians. The sport is what brings Nigerians together,”
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