By Augustine Akhilomen
Revered billionaire industrialist and
football enthusiast Aliko Dangote (GCON) has congratulated Nigeria
Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick for his victory into the
Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive seat last month.
The
former Delta State Sports administration defeated Benin's Anjorin
Moucharafou by 32-17 votes at the 39th Congress of CAF in Addis Ababa,
to earn the seat for West Africa Zone B in the elite club of African
football’s supreme governors.
In his letter of congratulations
dated 29th March, Dangote wrote: “Your victory at the keenly contested
election did not come to me as a surprise, given your exemplary track
record in football administration in Nigeria. Delta State achieved
several milestones during your tenure as the Chairman of the Delta State
Football Association. It was also during your tenure that Delta emerged
the overall champions at the 2012 National Sports Festival held in
Lagos State.
“As the President of the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF), you continued your winning streak by building bridges
of understanding and encouraging dialogue as a way of resolving
differences. Indeed, you brought stability into the NFF, and this has
impacted positively on the Federation leading to Nigeria’s improved FIFA
rankings.
“Your recent election in Addis Ababa, into the
powerful CAF Executive Committee representing West Africa Zone B, is
therefore an eloquent testimony of the acceptance of your visionary
leadership style. You did not only get elected, but you also helped make
history by supporting your candidate of choice for CAF Presidency,
Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar, to clinch the top seat.
“I want you
to see your election as an opportunity to project not only Nigeria’s
image, but also that of Africa on the world’s stage. I wish you God’s
continued guidance as you assume office.”
