Last week, I described the Nigerian Governors Forum variously as a club, cartel or fraternity that increasingly seems determined to turn Nigeria into a fascist rather than democratic state. Several events in the seven days (!) since the column was written reinforce my point. Readers will recall the essence of that article. Firstly, it is strange for governors elected on the basis of differing party platforms to act as a political group superseding their individual parties. That trend eliminates the checks and balances inherent in multi-party democracies and undermines the political party system. Secondly, the governors have demonstrated little, if any statesmanship during the Yar’adua crisis and in relation to national financial management as all their actions seem motivated by selfish political (and economic) calculations rather than national interest.
Thirdly, the strongest signal to date that the core of the “Governors’ Forum” does not seek a democratic state is their opposition to some aspects of the recent constitutional amendment that would have allowed independent candidacy and financial autonomy for state legislatures. The fact that the state legislatures acquiesced in a process that denied them autonomy while conceding same to INEC, the National Assembly and the Judiciary should alarm any patriots to the fact that our governors are actually very close to establishing themselves as absolute monarchs and fascists, rather than elected leaders who are subject to constitutional restraints. Indeed THISDAY Newspapers called them “The Imperial Governors”! Fourthly, the governors are creating (or at least steadily working towards creating) a de facto constitutional structure in which they are superior to the legislature, judiciary, party system, CBN/Finance Ministry (with regard to management of the federal wealth) and even the Presidency. Finally in my view, much of the governors’ move towards a feudal and fascist governance system may be traced to the leadership of Bukola Saraki, whose family has already established a dynasty in Kwara State based on similar principles.
As I said, much of my arguments have been re-validated, less than seven days after the column was written. A few days later, the PDP Governors warned PDP Chairman Okwuesilieze Nwodo to stop further comments on zoning, confirming that they believe they are superior to the party and its membership. Curiously these were the same people who asked Nwodo’s predecessor Vincent Ogbulafor (at a time of high national tension when the locus of power was yet to be resolved) to announce that the presidency has been zoned to the North. Why did they not think then that such a position was premature, and what has changed since then? The reality is that the governors (or in fact a small group of them who may be manipulating the others) clearly have their own agenda which is clearly opposed to President Jonathan’s.
Some days later, former Cross Rivers State Governor Donald Duke released an explosive expose which the Guardian published on Sunday July 18, 2010 titled “How Governors Rig Elections”. The publication confirms that most election rigging is perpetrated not by the much-vilified INEC, but by the Governors using their proximity to the resident electoral commissioners, bribery and corruption, and the polling officers who are often teachers and civil servants employed by the states. It is now clear that if we want free, fair and credible elections, the influence of governors over the electoral process must be eliminated or severely curtailed. Now we know that when governors say that “all votes must count”, they mean the votes which they have fraudulently recorded in their states must not be overwritten by the federal INEC or the presidency. What they want is free, fair and credible rigging!
Finally the same day that my column was published (Wednesday July 21, 2010) the Punch Newspapers published an interesting story titled, “How Governors Plan to Frustrate Jonathan”. The report detailed plans by the PDP governors to prevail on their party to hold the governorship primaries before the presidential one, thus ensuring that once they have secured their party nominations as governorship candidates (and ensured the nomination of their surrogates for those who would have served the mandatory two terms), they will be free to betray any understandings they may have reached with Jonathan. Of course that confirms the view that any positions advanced by these people are rarely motivated by national interest but by their determination to foist their will on the Nigerian people.
What might the governors be seeking to achieve in 2011? A careful analysis of their actions will suggest that they may have three options-A, B and C! I am not in a position to determine their preferred hierarchy amongst the plans (!) but Plans A and B may be Atiku Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida respectively, both of whom may have received assurances from them; while Plan C will be one of the governors themselves, most probably Bukola Saraki or Danjuma Goje! Plan C may indeed be the real McCoy while IBB and Atiku may be used in the interim, to deflect presidential power and anger! In all of these scenarios, a vice-presidential candidate from any of the “South-South” or “South-East” governors will be on the ticket, but the advantage will probably be with one whose state is rich enough to finance the group’s plans.
In order to execute this strategy, the governors will string Jonathan along until an opportune moment and then betray him in favour of their decided strategy.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Nigerian Governors' Fraternity
The “Governors’ Forum” is now the leading anti-democratic institution in Nigeria! I have previously described them as “Governors’ Cartel” reflecting their proclivity to act as a trade or producers’ union rather than politicians elected on the platform of (different) political parties with party structures, manifestos and political objectives. The trend of PDP, ANPP, AC, APGA and (as at then) PPA governors acting as a political cult transcending or superseding their individual parties is an oddity. One columnist actually argued rather strenuously that this strange and peculiarly Nigerian phenomenon should be institutionalised into a “Governors’ Party”! Is it conceivable that republican and democratic governors in the US will develop a common political strategy that contradicts or even confronts their individual party platforms? Is this trend possible in Ghana, South Africa, Benin Republic, India or Brazil?
Nowadays the “Nigerian Governors’ OPEC” (rather appropriate since their real essence is to superintend the sharing of the proceeds of Nigeria’s oil sales amongst its members!) is becoming more insidious, dangerous and plausibly a threat to democracy! At the height of the political crisis over the absence of late President Yar’adua, the Governors issued then Acting President Jonathan and the rest us, citizens their “ruling” (taking over the functions of the Supreme Court) on structure of executive power in Nigeria-Jonathan remains Acting President and Yar’adua, President! God reversed that extra-judicial judgment!!! Earlier they “instructed” then PDP chairman Vincent Ogbulafor to publicly rule out Jonathan from the 2011 presidency on account of a purported zoning to the North. Again God has ensured that we are at least debating the issue.
The governors will also like to believe that they “directed” the National Assembly to recognise Jonathan as acting president. The reality is completely different-they did everything to prevent Jonathan from inheriting substantive power until civil society led by “Save Nigeria Group”, the media and the international community made the power vacuum unsustainable while the fear of military intervention finally pushed the political class to act in self-preservation. Even then they exacted a price-the sharing of $2billion of “excess crude” earnings! They have supervised the almost complete depletion of this account reportedly from over $20billion to just about $2billion! Recent reports from the National Economic Council suggests that they are also opposed to using the meagre remnants of that account to form the seed funding for the proposed sovereign wealth fund. They will rule and spend for today; someone else will be governor tomorrow so he can deal with the empty purses!
All these unprincipled and reckless positions can be dismissed as advancement of selfish interest, politics rather than statesmanship, short-sightedness instead of foresight etc, but their most recent action in relation to constitutional amendment is a direct assault on Nigeria’s process of democratic consolidation. They (more correctly sixteen of them according to THISDAY of 15/7/10-Orji of Abia; Nyako of Adamawa; Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Yuguda of Bauchi; Sylva of Bayelsa; Imoke of Cross River; Uduaghan of Delta; Elechi of Ebonyi; Oshiomhole of Edo; Goje of Gombe; Lamido of Jigawa; Dakingari of Kebbi; Saraki of Kwara; Amaechi of Rivers; Wamakko of Sokoto; and Suntai of Taraba) have apparently prevailed on their state houses of assembly to reject aspects of the constitutional amendment-participation of independent candidates in elections; independent funding for state legislatures; and raising the qualifications of elected public officers from secondary school certificate to diploma. Whatever the earlier posturing of those who opposed these provisions, we now know that they are not democrats! It is a shame that former NLC President Adams Oshiomhole is in this category. It also tells us something about politics and civil society in the “South-South” that all the states in that region opposed these provisions! The irony is that Oshiomhole and some others may have benefitted just a few years earlier from independent candidacy. It is significant (and gratifying) that none of the states in Western Nigeria acted in this odious manner.
It is a sad reflection on the current state of Nigerian politics that state legislatures acquiesced in subverting their own independent funding while supporting independent funding for the National Assembly. Evidently the governors would like a vibrant and independent legislature at the federal level to curb presidential power but would have no such nonsense in their own fiefdoms! They are also happy to have semi-illiterates fill up their legislatures and local government councils since those are easier to control! Nigerians must now recognise these governors as the greatest threat to our democracy. What they seek is a fascist state in which thirty-six of them meet to decree our destiny. They presume that it is their exclusive prerogative to decide who will be president in 2011 and are steadily altering Nigeria’s constitution to create a de facto veto-wielding national legislative house comprised of thirty-six governors to which the Senate and Representatives report! Their current chair is actively expanding that unconstitutional role into an alternate presidency!!!
Today we have a club of governors that purport to be superior to the judiciary, the ruling PDP, the National Assembly, CBN/Finance Ministry and even the Presidency! But then it should not be surprising. Their leader and chief strategist is Bukola Saraki, whose family owns Kwara State! Evidently he and his friends will like to own Nigeria as well!!! If you like Nigeria to become a family fiefdom or feudal enclave like Kwara, then ignore the actions of the Nigerian Governors Fraternity!!!
Nowadays the “Nigerian Governors’ OPEC” (rather appropriate since their real essence is to superintend the sharing of the proceeds of Nigeria’s oil sales amongst its members!) is becoming more insidious, dangerous and plausibly a threat to democracy! At the height of the political crisis over the absence of late President Yar’adua, the Governors issued then Acting President Jonathan and the rest us, citizens their “ruling” (taking over the functions of the Supreme Court) on structure of executive power in Nigeria-Jonathan remains Acting President and Yar’adua, President! God reversed that extra-judicial judgment!!! Earlier they “instructed” then PDP chairman Vincent Ogbulafor to publicly rule out Jonathan from the 2011 presidency on account of a purported zoning to the North. Again God has ensured that we are at least debating the issue.
The governors will also like to believe that they “directed” the National Assembly to recognise Jonathan as acting president. The reality is completely different-they did everything to prevent Jonathan from inheriting substantive power until civil society led by “Save Nigeria Group”, the media and the international community made the power vacuum unsustainable while the fear of military intervention finally pushed the political class to act in self-preservation. Even then they exacted a price-the sharing of $2billion of “excess crude” earnings! They have supervised the almost complete depletion of this account reportedly from over $20billion to just about $2billion! Recent reports from the National Economic Council suggests that they are also opposed to using the meagre remnants of that account to form the seed funding for the proposed sovereign wealth fund. They will rule and spend for today; someone else will be governor tomorrow so he can deal with the empty purses!
All these unprincipled and reckless positions can be dismissed as advancement of selfish interest, politics rather than statesmanship, short-sightedness instead of foresight etc, but their most recent action in relation to constitutional amendment is a direct assault on Nigeria’s process of democratic consolidation. They (more correctly sixteen of them according to THISDAY of 15/7/10-Orji of Abia; Nyako of Adamawa; Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Yuguda of Bauchi; Sylva of Bayelsa; Imoke of Cross River; Uduaghan of Delta; Elechi of Ebonyi; Oshiomhole of Edo; Goje of Gombe; Lamido of Jigawa; Dakingari of Kebbi; Saraki of Kwara; Amaechi of Rivers; Wamakko of Sokoto; and Suntai of Taraba) have apparently prevailed on their state houses of assembly to reject aspects of the constitutional amendment-participation of independent candidates in elections; independent funding for state legislatures; and raising the qualifications of elected public officers from secondary school certificate to diploma. Whatever the earlier posturing of those who opposed these provisions, we now know that they are not democrats! It is a shame that former NLC President Adams Oshiomhole is in this category. It also tells us something about politics and civil society in the “South-South” that all the states in that region opposed these provisions! The irony is that Oshiomhole and some others may have benefitted just a few years earlier from independent candidacy. It is significant (and gratifying) that none of the states in Western Nigeria acted in this odious manner.
It is a sad reflection on the current state of Nigerian politics that state legislatures acquiesced in subverting their own independent funding while supporting independent funding for the National Assembly. Evidently the governors would like a vibrant and independent legislature at the federal level to curb presidential power but would have no such nonsense in their own fiefdoms! They are also happy to have semi-illiterates fill up their legislatures and local government councils since those are easier to control! Nigerians must now recognise these governors as the greatest threat to our democracy. What they seek is a fascist state in which thirty-six of them meet to decree our destiny. They presume that it is their exclusive prerogative to decide who will be president in 2011 and are steadily altering Nigeria’s constitution to create a de facto veto-wielding national legislative house comprised of thirty-six governors to which the Senate and Representatives report! Their current chair is actively expanding that unconstitutional role into an alternate presidency!!!
Today we have a club of governors that purport to be superior to the judiciary, the ruling PDP, the National Assembly, CBN/Finance Ministry and even the Presidency! But then it should not be surprising. Their leader and chief strategist is Bukola Saraki, whose family owns Kwara State! Evidently he and his friends will like to own Nigeria as well!!! If you like Nigeria to become a family fiefdom or feudal enclave like Kwara, then ignore the actions of the Nigerian Governors Fraternity!!!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Spanish World Cup
The first world cup I followed was in 1974 in West Germany. Apart from the final, one other game stuck in my memory-East Germany against West Germany in the group stages. The socialist East defeated the Westerners 1-0. But it was West Germany that went on through to the final against Netherlands then regarded as the best team in the world. The Dutch had the best player in the world-Johan Cruijff, also my personal favourite. Germany had two outstanding players-captain Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller and the Germans won 2-1 with Muller as the highest goal scorer. Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) represented Africa putting up a dismal performance.
Four years later, I was at Igbobi College and followed more closely. A golden generation of Nigerian footballers including Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Thompson Usiyen, Godwin Odiye and Christian Chukwu needed a victory against Tunisia at home in Lagos to qualify and I was in the National Stadium Surulere to cheer Nigeria to our first world cup. But then Odiye scored that famous (or notorious) own goal that gave the ticket to Tunisia. Netherlands again got to the final, again meeting hosts Argentina with extraordinary players like Mario Kempes, Ossie Ardiles, Daniel Passarella and Daniel Bertoni. Argentina defeated Holland 3-1. That world cup featured two great stars-Zico of Brazil and Michel Platini of France.
The 1980s for good or for bad was the Diego Maradona era as he appeared in three tournaments-1982, 1986 (which Argentina won and Maradona produced the notorious “hand of God” goal as well as that extraordinary goal in which he dribbled perhaps the entire English team before scoring) and 1990 in which he was disgraced for drug cheating. The 1990s and 2000s was dominated by Ronaldo (the original Brazilian Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima), Zinedane Zidane of France and Roberto Baggio of Italy. Ronaldo was in the Brazilian team that won in 1994 (but he did not play) and 2002 (where he scored eight goals). He also scored four goals in 1998 and three in 2006 breaking Gerd Muller’s record of 14 goals and setting a new record of 15. Zidane led the great “Les Blues” to victory in 1998 but went out in shame in the final match at the 2006 edition for head-butting Marco Matterazi of eventual winners Italy. Baggio played at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 tournaments scoring in every one and nine overall.
Nigeria would compete in its first world cup at USA 1994. That image of Rasheed Yekini shaking the net and shouting “Yekini, Yekini…” is till today one of the enduring images of the competition. But that world cup was also the beginning of mafias and politicisation of our national football team as some of Yekini’s colleagues conspired to deny him access to passes and further goals in the competition. It was after the June 12, 1993 election annulment and General Sani Abacha was in power. Certain players became close to those in power, cliques were formed and certain players were derided as “NADECO” players mirroring Nigeria’s then political tensions. In spite of all that Nigeria gave a good account of itself, but the rot had started.
The just-concluded 2010 world cup was remarkable for being the first in Africa, the “vuvuzelas” and the controversial “jabulani” ball. South Africa made the continent proud with excellent facilities and organisation, and very enthusiastic crowds. The story of Nigeria’s shameful participation has been told and need not be repeated. But South Africa, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana did well, and Ghana indeed deserved to go through to the semi-finals and perhaps better but for the hand of Uruguain Luis Suarez! Once Ghana, Argentina and Brazil were out however, I wanted and got a Spain-Netherland final to guarantee that either of those two excellent footballing nations would win the cup for the first time. My heart wanted Holland to avoid a hat-trick of losses in the final but my head (and solidarity with my Spanish friends) recognised that Spain was the better team and more likely to prevail and so it turned out.
This world cup has brought new superstars into global football-Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben of Holland; David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernadez, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Carlos Puyol and Iker Cassillas of Spain; Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew and John Mensah of Ghana; Thomas Mueller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil of Germany; Gonzalo Higuan, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi of Argentina and Diego Forlan of Uruguay. Forlan was clearly the most impressive player of this competition and deservedly won the Golden Ball with Sneijder, Villa, Mueller and Forlan sharing the Golden Boot. Two brothers-Kevin Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng played for different nations-Ghana and Germany. On the other hand there were flops-Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo, Samuel Etoo, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, France, Italy and England. There was also Paul the octopus who predicted the final and all Germany’s seven games right to the third place match correctly. I hope they will not start worshipping the octopus!
Finally this world cup reminded us of the link between football and national character-a dysfunctional French team riven with indiscipline, fierce emotions and riotous behaviour; an aging Italian team; the efficiency, hardwork, skill and energy of the Germans; the South Americans, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico-all skill but limited technique, all flair but little strategy, all passion but limited discipline (and ready to use their hands!); a rising, reforming, ambitious Ghana but with limitations in terms of teamwork and precision; a Nigerian team that reflected the corruption, maladministration, mediocrity and selfishness of the country’s leadership; a liberal, creative, quiet, focused and harmonious Holland; and the flair, creativity, commitment and persistence of the Spanish.
Four years later, I was at Igbobi College and followed more closely. A golden generation of Nigerian footballers including Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Thompson Usiyen, Godwin Odiye and Christian Chukwu needed a victory against Tunisia at home in Lagos to qualify and I was in the National Stadium Surulere to cheer Nigeria to our first world cup. But then Odiye scored that famous (or notorious) own goal that gave the ticket to Tunisia. Netherlands again got to the final, again meeting hosts Argentina with extraordinary players like Mario Kempes, Ossie Ardiles, Daniel Passarella and Daniel Bertoni. Argentina defeated Holland 3-1. That world cup featured two great stars-Zico of Brazil and Michel Platini of France.
The 1980s for good or for bad was the Diego Maradona era as he appeared in three tournaments-1982, 1986 (which Argentina won and Maradona produced the notorious “hand of God” goal as well as that extraordinary goal in which he dribbled perhaps the entire English team before scoring) and 1990 in which he was disgraced for drug cheating. The 1990s and 2000s was dominated by Ronaldo (the original Brazilian Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima), Zinedane Zidane of France and Roberto Baggio of Italy. Ronaldo was in the Brazilian team that won in 1994 (but he did not play) and 2002 (where he scored eight goals). He also scored four goals in 1998 and three in 2006 breaking Gerd Muller’s record of 14 goals and setting a new record of 15. Zidane led the great “Les Blues” to victory in 1998 but went out in shame in the final match at the 2006 edition for head-butting Marco Matterazi of eventual winners Italy. Baggio played at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 tournaments scoring in every one and nine overall.
Nigeria would compete in its first world cup at USA 1994. That image of Rasheed Yekini shaking the net and shouting “Yekini, Yekini…” is till today one of the enduring images of the competition. But that world cup was also the beginning of mafias and politicisation of our national football team as some of Yekini’s colleagues conspired to deny him access to passes and further goals in the competition. It was after the June 12, 1993 election annulment and General Sani Abacha was in power. Certain players became close to those in power, cliques were formed and certain players were derided as “NADECO” players mirroring Nigeria’s then political tensions. In spite of all that Nigeria gave a good account of itself, but the rot had started.
The just-concluded 2010 world cup was remarkable for being the first in Africa, the “vuvuzelas” and the controversial “jabulani” ball. South Africa made the continent proud with excellent facilities and organisation, and very enthusiastic crowds. The story of Nigeria’s shameful participation has been told and need not be repeated. But South Africa, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana did well, and Ghana indeed deserved to go through to the semi-finals and perhaps better but for the hand of Uruguain Luis Suarez! Once Ghana, Argentina and Brazil were out however, I wanted and got a Spain-Netherland final to guarantee that either of those two excellent footballing nations would win the cup for the first time. My heart wanted Holland to avoid a hat-trick of losses in the final but my head (and solidarity with my Spanish friends) recognised that Spain was the better team and more likely to prevail and so it turned out.
This world cup has brought new superstars into global football-Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben of Holland; David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernadez, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Carlos Puyol and Iker Cassillas of Spain; Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew and John Mensah of Ghana; Thomas Mueller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil of Germany; Gonzalo Higuan, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi of Argentina and Diego Forlan of Uruguay. Forlan was clearly the most impressive player of this competition and deservedly won the Golden Ball with Sneijder, Villa, Mueller and Forlan sharing the Golden Boot. Two brothers-Kevin Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng played for different nations-Ghana and Germany. On the other hand there were flops-Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo, Samuel Etoo, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, France, Italy and England. There was also Paul the octopus who predicted the final and all Germany’s seven games right to the third place match correctly. I hope they will not start worshipping the octopus!
Finally this world cup reminded us of the link between football and national character-a dysfunctional French team riven with indiscipline, fierce emotions and riotous behaviour; an aging Italian team; the efficiency, hardwork, skill and energy of the Germans; the South Americans, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico-all skill but limited technique, all flair but little strategy, all passion but limited discipline (and ready to use their hands!); a rising, reforming, ambitious Ghana but with limitations in terms of teamwork and precision; a Nigerian team that reflected the corruption, maladministration, mediocrity and selfishness of the country’s leadership; a liberal, creative, quiet, focused and harmonious Holland; and the flair, creativity, commitment and persistence of the Spanish.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
"Super Eagles" and Nigerian Character Part 2
Last week I reflected on how football increasingly mirrors the ills that plague Nigeria. The same Wednesday (June 30) the column was published, the President received the report of the “Presidential Task Force” (PTF) on the 2010 World Cup and announced a withdrawal of Nigeria from all FIFA-organised competitions for two years. My diagnosis may overlap in some areas with that of the Presidency and the PTF, but I suspect the cure proposed was rather brash and perhaps not well thought-through! The presidential action, which risks a FIFA ban on Nigerian football would be acceptable if it was clear there was no alternative strategy to achieve our objectives of cleaning up and reforming our football. On the contrary I believe the Presidency is not so powerless (in spite of any FIFA or NFF statutes) to subtly influence the removal of Sani Lulu and his gang without an explicit ban or dissolution by the Government.
The removal of Sani Lulu, Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi and public apology by the NFF Board confirms that government now understands that “a tiger does not need to proclaim its tigritude”. It can merely act as one! The Sani Lulu team may in fact be particularly vulnerable to an investigation by the ICPC, EFCC or Police such that its capacity to defy the Presidency is severely limited. Surely FIFA cannot protect the NFF from the policing and judicial system? Indeed government must now mount a full scale investigation into the affairs and finances of the NFF, Nigerian Premier League (NPL) under Oyuiki Obaseki and even the Sports Ministry in the last few years to confirm if indeed public funds have been misappropriated. Certainly FIFA (which admittedly often behaves as if it is above the law) cannot prevent Nigeria from investigating and prosecuting allegations of corruption.
The draconian presidential ban can be faulted on a more fundamental ground. It neither addresses nor guarantees that the real issues with the administration of our football will be addressed. The issue cannot be reduced simply to a power struggle between the NFF and PTF! The dissolution of NFF and their replacement by those favoured by government or the PTF will not, without more, change the fortunes of our football just like zoning the Presidency to the North-West or South-South will not automatically solve the problems of the Nigerian nation-football mirrors national character remember! The problems with football as I argued last week are no different from the nation’s-corruption; state capture and hijacking of public resources by private or group interests who then seek to hold on to their prize in perpetuity; fraud and deceit in the conduct of public affairs (in the case of football essentially through age cheating); refusal to put people with requisite qualifications, experience and passion for service in positions of authority. Merely dissolving the NFF and replacing the current clique with a new one will not remove these problems. Moreover some of those who may have instigated the action taken by government may be aiming merely to supplant the present NFF and are justifying the action on wrong grounds-the argument that government funds sports in Nigeria and therefore should be entitled to hire and fire the NFF. I believe instead that we need a sports industry controlled by private capital and management and it is the corruption of the government-appointed or influenced football administrators that has prevented private sector funds from coming into sports.
We need for instance a new football policy which discourages and indeed punishes age cheating. Perhaps we need a law that categorises age cheating in sports (as well as in public service and employment generally) as a corrupt and criminal act and imposes stringent fines and imprisonment for contravention. The law should designate the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) as enforcing agency for such a law and should hold coaches, administrators, parents as well as the concerned individual liable for breaches. We must ensure that only secondary school children take part in under-17 football competitions and then scrupulously ensure that only persons within the required age groups partake in under-20 and under-23 competitions. Anyone proven to have altered his or her age must be banned for life from representing Nigeria in any sports competitions and in our national teams and we must investigate and ascertain the real ages of people beyond their own declarations and make a public example of infractions.
Concerning the failed Super Eagles team, we must immediately retire the old guard-Kanu Nwankwo, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, John Utaka, Danny Shittu, Yusuf Ayila etc and create a new team around John Mikel Obi as captain. Just like the nation needs to enthrone meritocracy rather than mediocrity, our football must do the same. Imagine a team with tired players like Kanu, Yobo and even Aiyegbeni wearing the captain’s band while our only current world class player, Mikel is accorded only grudging acceptance. Finally we must ensure that credible, ethical and committed administrators are put in control of our sports. There is one individual I would personally like to see as NFF Chairman-Adokiye Amiesimaka!!! He is an experienced sports administrator, ex-international, former solicitor-general and permanent secretary and most importantly one of the few persons of integrity around our sports. Amiesimaka it was who exposed our last “under-17” captain Fortune Chukwudi as aged anywhere between 25 and 28 years old!!!
The removal of Sani Lulu, Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi and public apology by the NFF Board confirms that government now understands that “a tiger does not need to proclaim its tigritude”. It can merely act as one! The Sani Lulu team may in fact be particularly vulnerable to an investigation by the ICPC, EFCC or Police such that its capacity to defy the Presidency is severely limited. Surely FIFA cannot protect the NFF from the policing and judicial system? Indeed government must now mount a full scale investigation into the affairs and finances of the NFF, Nigerian Premier League (NPL) under Oyuiki Obaseki and even the Sports Ministry in the last few years to confirm if indeed public funds have been misappropriated. Certainly FIFA (which admittedly often behaves as if it is above the law) cannot prevent Nigeria from investigating and prosecuting allegations of corruption.
The draconian presidential ban can be faulted on a more fundamental ground. It neither addresses nor guarantees that the real issues with the administration of our football will be addressed. The issue cannot be reduced simply to a power struggle between the NFF and PTF! The dissolution of NFF and their replacement by those favoured by government or the PTF will not, without more, change the fortunes of our football just like zoning the Presidency to the North-West or South-South will not automatically solve the problems of the Nigerian nation-football mirrors national character remember! The problems with football as I argued last week are no different from the nation’s-corruption; state capture and hijacking of public resources by private or group interests who then seek to hold on to their prize in perpetuity; fraud and deceit in the conduct of public affairs (in the case of football essentially through age cheating); refusal to put people with requisite qualifications, experience and passion for service in positions of authority. Merely dissolving the NFF and replacing the current clique with a new one will not remove these problems. Moreover some of those who may have instigated the action taken by government may be aiming merely to supplant the present NFF and are justifying the action on wrong grounds-the argument that government funds sports in Nigeria and therefore should be entitled to hire and fire the NFF. I believe instead that we need a sports industry controlled by private capital and management and it is the corruption of the government-appointed or influenced football administrators that has prevented private sector funds from coming into sports.
We need for instance a new football policy which discourages and indeed punishes age cheating. Perhaps we need a law that categorises age cheating in sports (as well as in public service and employment generally) as a corrupt and criminal act and imposes stringent fines and imprisonment for contravention. The law should designate the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) as enforcing agency for such a law and should hold coaches, administrators, parents as well as the concerned individual liable for breaches. We must ensure that only secondary school children take part in under-17 football competitions and then scrupulously ensure that only persons within the required age groups partake in under-20 and under-23 competitions. Anyone proven to have altered his or her age must be banned for life from representing Nigeria in any sports competitions and in our national teams and we must investigate and ascertain the real ages of people beyond their own declarations and make a public example of infractions.
Concerning the failed Super Eagles team, we must immediately retire the old guard-Kanu Nwankwo, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, John Utaka, Danny Shittu, Yusuf Ayila etc and create a new team around John Mikel Obi as captain. Just like the nation needs to enthrone meritocracy rather than mediocrity, our football must do the same. Imagine a team with tired players like Kanu, Yobo and even Aiyegbeni wearing the captain’s band while our only current world class player, Mikel is accorded only grudging acceptance. Finally we must ensure that credible, ethical and committed administrators are put in control of our sports. There is one individual I would personally like to see as NFF Chairman-Adokiye Amiesimaka!!! He is an experienced sports administrator, ex-international, former solicitor-general and permanent secretary and most importantly one of the few persons of integrity around our sports. Amiesimaka it was who exposed our last “under-17” captain Fortune Chukwudi as aged anywhere between 25 and 28 years old!!!
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