President Jonathan Can Still Pull This Last String

The world stood still when they heard the actions President Goodluck Jonathan at the recently concluded Presidential election in Nigeria.

He did not only allow the will of the people to prevail, he also conceded defeat and congratulated the President elect General Muhammadu Buhari even before the last count of the votes.

He did not only stun the whole world with his statesmanship attitude, his actions went further to confirm his regular saying that his election does not worth the blood of any Nigeria.

President Jonathan scored the first in this approach by not only been the first seating President in Africa to have conceded power to the opposition without resort to rancor and crisis, but giving the electoral commission the free hand to organize a free and fair elections.

 Generations yet unborn would always remember him for this act that has kept the unity of the country intact.

In the sporting sector, Jonathan administration would always be classed among the first. It is during his administration that the Super Eagles first won the African Nations Cup  with an indigenous coach.

The National U-20 Women team won the silver medal at the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup also under an indigenous coach.

He personally insisted that Coach Stephen Keshi who was the first indigenous coach to have won the AFCON was not sacked by the NFF, but made to be retained on his job, despite pressures from many quarters.

His insistence was basically as a way to appreciate those who must have worked hard to project the image of the country.

Also when the crisis that engulfed the Football Federation persisted during the tenure of Aminu Maigari he intervened to ensure that it did not escalate, and the positive efforts of Aminu Maigari thrown to the trash bin.

These international steps of Mr. President did actually show that his policy of not allowing those that have served the country meritoriously are not victimized by superior powers.

As the President prepares to leave office, and most probably retire to a quiet private life, many believes that he can pull this last string, by intervening immediately and ensure that the lingering legal issues involving the four former chieftains of the NFF comprising of Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Amanze Uchegbulam, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Bolaji Ojooba are quickly resolved before May 29 handling over date.

The case which is a corruption charges have lingered for over five years, with the EFCC who instituted the charges having no witness to prosecute it, but buying time to make life miserable for the citizens who must have contributed positively to the development of football in the country, and using the power of football to draw home the transformation agenda of Mr. President.

They have written several letters through paid advertisement proclaiming their innocence in the charges EFCC leveled against them which were centered on the following: - Purchase/procurement of two (2) Marco Polo Buses, Hiring of an Aircraft at a rate lower than the normal price and, conspired to book a cheap, substandard and unbefitting Hampshire Hotel for the Super Eagles Team in South Africa.

Activities which they said were carried out without government fund, that was released to them only two days to the World Cup.

They had outlined the various challenges that bedeviled them while in office to include:

•    The Late release of funds for competitions. For example, the Government grant of N900 Million for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa was released on 2nd June 2010, only four days to the commencement of the tournament.

•    The required additional funds of the excess N200 Million and N600 Million (over and above the approved Government provision) expected from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the 2010 African Nation Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup respectively were never remitted to NFF.

•    The Minister of Sports – Alh. Ibrahim Bio’s, directive, just two months to the commencement of FIFA World Cup tournament, cancelling the NFF’s paid reservation of Hampshire Hotel as the Super Eagles base camp in South Africa despite FIFA approval and accreditation was a major set-back and unnecessary.

•    The letter from Alh. Ibrahim Bio – Hon. Minister of Sports dated 30th June 2010 to FIFA withdrawing Nigeria from all FIFA organized tournaments was ill-timed and done out of malice and selfish interest without due consultation with relevant authority.

•    That the allegation leveled against them by the then Hon. Minister of Sports, Mr. Ibrahim Bio, on the 6th of July 2010 at the inauguration ceremony of the new NFF management was baseless and a clear manifestation of the determination of the Sports authority to corruptly use instrument of power to blackmail them and justify their illegal action of forcing them out of office.

•    That the NSC and PTF had their ways and finally mobilized all the available apparatus and powers at their disposal to get them out of the way. Leading to their impeachment which was contrived and they were removed from office in the most brazen manner, without regards to due process and the statutes of NFF and FIFA and a petition made available to the EFCC who swoop on them at the NFF and subsequently without due process detained, charged and arraigned us in court.


•    That they followed the due process in accordance with FIFA/NFF statutes by formally challenging all these allegations and illegalities up to the level of the International Court of Arbitration on Sports  (CAS) in Zurich but was misled to withdrew the case in February 2011, because NFF had vacated its impeachment against them on 28/12/2010 and this was consequently followed by the intervention of CAF President (Dr. Isa Hayatou).

•    That they exhibited the highest level of maturity and patriotism  by avoiding to overheat the polity of the politically tensed nation which was then preparing for its general election in April 2011.

•    That they met and cleared a huge debt of over N300 Million inherited on their assumption of office in August 2006, re-engineered and left a total sum of over N2.8 Billion in the various accounts of NFF, either in Nigeria Banks or with FIFA, and they are still being vilified for mismanagement of resources and corruption.

 It will be very historical and also on record once again, if Mr. President will for this last minute investigate all these claims and injustice which is becoming an international embarrassment before he finally leaves office.


Chukuma Moses