By Augustine Akhilomen
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has received serious backing from the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the board, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, with regards to the forthcoming election into the presidency of the Confederation of African Football.
The former Delta State Sports administrators had earlier in the week called for a change of power in the CAF seat, thereby urging the current CAF president, Issa Hayatou to step down in a bid to allow for other fresh candidate to handle the affairs of the Africa.
In a statement credited to Yahaya-Kwande in thenff.com, he pointed out that the NFF are in support of Pinnick’s choice of casting his vote for any of the two CAF Presidential candidates.
“The issue of which of the two candidates the NFF should support came up during our last Board meeting in Abuja, on Tuesday 7th February 2017. Every single member of Board spoke on the issue and expressed support for the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, to use his discretion and vote for that candidate who will best serve Nigeria’s interest during the election. This support was given based on the fact as the NFF President and a Member of the CAF Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, he is fully in tune with the political play at that level and knows what would be best for Nigeria.
“There was not a dissenting voice in the room that day. Everyone agreed that Mr. Pinnick should go ahead and cast his vote for the candidate he feels would support Nigerian Football to grow the way we want it. It is not correct for anyone to say the matter was not discussed.”
“The Board spent good time discussing the CAF elections and the importance of Nigeria having someone on the CAF Executive Committee, considering the huge role that our nation has always been playing in peace –keeping and sundry noble programs on the continent.
“There is no division in the NFF Board. We are giving full and unconditional support to Mr. Pinnick to stand for the elections and for him to cast his vote for that candidate whose presidency of CAF would serve the interest of our great nation.”
The 39th Ordinary Congress of CAF, at which the elections would take place, comes up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in exactly three weeks’ time.”
