Hurdles before Galadima How Obasanjo helped Adamu in 2004
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- Written by David Ngobua
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As popular as his candidature for membership of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is, former NFA Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima is presently face to face with hurdles which might be too high for him to scale.
Galadima will have to surmount both internal and external hurdles if he is to achieve his ambition of becoming an Executive Committee member of CAF.Few days after Galadima was nominated by the Nigeria Football Federation as replacement for disgraced Dr. Amos Adamu, Trustsports gathered on good authority that some powerful people in the camp of Adamu kicked against the nomination and vowed to scuttle his ambition.
Even if it was seen as an empty boast, what started like a joke manifested yesterday with a report in Supersport that Adamu is not happy with Galadima’s nomination as his replacement.
According to the report Adamu who has appealed his ban by FIFA is angry that if he wins his appeal, the action taken by the NFF will lead to serious confusion. “Fifa took its decision but I’m not satisfied with it and the next thing I hear is that the NFF leadership has nominated Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima,” Adamu told The Sun.
“I don’t understand what NFF is doing when it is aware that I have decided to appeal the verdict of the Ethics Committee of Fifa.”
The reaction from Adamu is a clear sign of what lies ahead for Galadima and his supporters. Adamu who is not happy with what has befallen him is said to be desperate to stop Galadima.
But Galadima yesterday told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that he bears no grudge against Adamu inspite of Adamu’s objection to the decision of NFF.
“I have nothing against Adamu and he knows that I did not nominate myself.
“I was nominated by the federation, if he has anything against my nomination he should seek clarifications from the NFF,” Galadima said.
Speaking with Trustsports yesterday, former NFA 2nd vice-chairman, Barrister Chive Kaave lauded NFF’s choice of his former boss but was quick to add that Galadima is faced with numerous hurdles.
He said going by Galadima’s impeccable records, he is one of the best Nigerians for the job but he may not succeed in his bid if government fails to lend a helping hand.
He therefore called on government to start diplomatic shuttles without further delay, if Galadima is to succeed.
“I fully support Galadima’s nomination but I am afraid he may not make it if government does not give him a helping hand. It is going to be another round of battle between the Anglo-phone and Franco-phone African nations”.
Earlier, former Gombe State FA chairman, Alhaji Shaibu Gara-Gombe said Galadima is a marketable product and so it should not be difficult for government to support him.
According to Gombe, in 2004 when Adamu wanted to contest for the same position, the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo lobbied some of the powerful African leaders to support his candidature.
The views of these two Nigerians is not unfounded as Trustsports can report authoritatively that in 2004, former President Olusegun Obasanjo personally wrote to Ghanaian President, Mr. John Kufuor soliciting for his support for Adamu’s candidature.
The letter dated January 16, 2006 and addressed to His Excellency John Kufuor reads in part: “In line with our brotherly tradition, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that Nigeria is presenting Dr. Amos Adamu as a candidate for re-election to the Executive Committee of the African Football Confederation, CAF, at the organization’s Congress holding in Tunisia later this month.
“Although Dr. Adamu who headed the organizing Committee of the 8th All Africa Games has significant credentials for the position, I am certain your Excellency’s blessings would add invaluable mileage to Nigeria’s aspiration in this regard. I am aware, Mr. President, that Ghana Football Association is presenting a respectable candidate, Mr. Abedi Pele for the same position and that this presents a difficult scenario. However, I count on the principles that have made Ghana and Nigeria such exemplary neighbours and friends in making this request”.
The tone of the letter written and signed by the former President clearly captured the enormous contribution of government to the success of Adamu in 2004.
It is on this premise that most Nigerians are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to throw government’s weight behind Galadima as they believe that this is another Nigerian project.
For such Nigerians, Galadima’s failure will mean Nigeria will have to wait for at least eight years before she would begin to think of having a representation on the Executive Committee of CAF.
Nigerians are unanimous in their position that going by the country’s pedigree in both continental and global football, it would be a thing of shame if she does not have a representative at least in CAF.
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Hurdles before Galadima How Obasanjo helped Adamu in 2004
Category: Sports Written by David Ngobua Hits: 555
As popular as his candidature for membership of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is, former NFA Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima is presently face to face with hurdles which might be too high for him to scale.
Galadima will have to surmount both internal and external hurdles if he is to achieve his ambition of becoming an Executive Committee member of CAF.Few days after Galadima was nominated by the Nigeria Football Federation as replacement for disgraced Dr. Amos Adamu, Trustsports gathered on good authority that some powerful people in the camp of Adamu kicked against the nomination and vowed to scuttle his ambition.
Even if it was seen as an empty boast, what started like a joke manifested yesterday with a report in Supersport that Adamu is not happy with Galadima’s nomination as his replacement.
According to the report Adamu who has appealed his ban by FIFA is angry that if he wins his appeal, the action taken by the NFF will lead to serious confusion. “Fifa took its decision but I’m not satisfied with it and the next thing I hear is that the NFF leadership has nominated Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima,” Adamu told The Sun.
“I don’t understand what NFF is doing when it is aware that I have decided to appeal the verdict of the Ethics Committee of Fifa.”
The reaction from Adamu is a clear sign of what lies ahead for Galadima and his supporters. Adamu who is not happy with what has befallen him is said to be desperate to stop Galadima.
But Galadima yesterday told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that he bears no grudge against Adamu inspite of Adamu’s objection to the decision of NFF.
“I have nothing against Adamu and he knows that I did not nominate myself.
“I was nominated by the federation, if he has anything against my nomination he should seek clarifications from the NFF,” Galadima said.
Speaking with Trustsports yesterday, former NFA 2nd vice-chairman, Barrister Chive Kaave lauded NFF’s choice of his former boss but was quick to add that Galadima is faced with numerous hurdles.
He said going by Galadima’s impeccable records, he is one of the best Nigerians for the job but he may not succeed in his bid if government fails to lend a helping hand.
He therefore called on government to start diplomatic shuttles without further delay, if Galadima is to succeed.
“I fully support Galadima’s nomination but I am afraid he may not make it if government does not give him a helping hand. It is going to be another round of battle between the Anglo-phone and Franco-phone African nations”.
Earlier, former Gombe State FA chairman, Alhaji Shaibu Gara-Gombe said Galadima is a marketable product and so it should not be difficult for government to support him.
According to Gombe, in 2004 when Adamu wanted to contest for the same position, the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo lobbied some of the powerful African leaders to support his candidature.
The views of these two Nigerians is not unfounded as Trustsports can report authoritatively that in 2004, former President Olusegun Obasanjo personally wrote to Ghanaian President, Mr. John Kufuor soliciting for his support for Adamu’s candidature.
The letter dated January 16, 2006 and addressed to His Excellency John Kufuor reads in part: “In line with our brotherly tradition, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that Nigeria is presenting Dr. Amos Adamu as a candidate for re-election to the Executive Committee of the African Football Confederation, CAF, at the organization’s Congress holding in Tunisia later this month.
“Although Dr. Adamu who headed the organizing Committee of the 8th All Africa Games has significant credentials for the position, I am certain your Excellency’s blessings would add invaluable mileage to Nigeria’s aspiration in this regard. I am aware, Mr. President, that Ghana Football Association is presenting a respectable candidate, Mr. Abedi Pele for the same position and that this presents a difficult scenario. However, I count on the principles that have made Ghana and Nigeria such exemplary neighbours and friends in making this request”.
The tone of the letter written and signed by the former President clearly captured the enormous contribution of government to the success of Adamu in 2004.
It is on this premise that most Nigerians are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to throw government’s weight behind Galadima as they believe that this is another Nigerian project.
For such Nigerians, Galadima’s failure will mean Nigeria will have to wait for at least eight years before she would begin to think of having a representation on the Executive Committee of CAF.
Nigerians are unanimous in their position that going by the country’s pedigree in both continental and global football, it would be a thing of shame if she does not have a representative at least in CAF.