My mail box has been unusually packed this past week. That is understandable considering the unprecedented drama that is unfolding around Nigerian football.  There is the matter of a Federal High court judgment in Lagos that, expectedly, nullified the wuru wuru elections held some two weeks ago into the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Association. There is the unfortunate situation of some former NFA officials in the net of the EFCC playing out in a High Court in Abuja. There is also various clubs and national teams of Nigeria is involved in several international competitions and doing relatively well considering the circumstances!

A very interesting invisible scenario has emerged following the nullification judgment of the High Court in Lagos. Let us go back in time. In the morning of Thursday, August 26, 2010, the congress of 88 members of the Nigeria Football Association met in Abuja. One of its major decisions is the dissolution of the Executive Committee of the NFA. It effectively brought to an end the tenure of the Lulu/Maigari board. That remains a legitimate action.

It is after that the Electoral Committee was invited to take charge of the elections into the new Executive Committee. There were the 44 delegates and the contestants only in this second action. It is that action by that assembly that has now been annulled by the courts. The import of the present situation is that until new elections are held (and it would not matter how long that takes) and a new Executive Committee emerges from the exercise no new congress of the NFA can be called.  It, therefore, matters how the elections into the NFA board are held that will now determine the composition of the next congress. Some of us are insisting that Local Government and State elections into ALL the boards of the bodies that make up the membership of the Nigeria Football Association must take place first so that they will constitute the new electorate that will elect a new Executive Committee using fresh guidelines to be issued by a new Electoral Committee (under the guidance of the Secretariat of the NFA) that will set up in line with FIFA electoral code guidelines to conduct the new elections. It is the emergent Executive Committee that will now call for the next assembly of a brand new congress of the NFA! It is truly incredible how things are turning out in the political landscape of Nigerian football! From the debris of the recent convulsions will surely arise a new dawn.

I stop here. As I promised last week, until the courts finally resolve all the issues before them, I shall pass no more comments. The days, weeks and months ahead present the prospects of truly challenging and exciting times. They also present all Nigerians with the opportunity to find out more, know more, and be involved more in all the affairs of their national sport.

Can, will FIFA ban Nigeria?

This is my thought on the above question.  People have been worried and asking questions about football, the law courts and FIFA’s attitude. I have read up extensively on the issue and this is my finding. FIFA has exclusive powers and the final say on all matters involving the Laws of the Game and technical football matters like match results, fixtures, disciplinary actions, and so on. FIFA also makes the provision that in a case where any one of its members feels aggrieved about issues on such matters after FIFA’s ‘final’ decision, the member can still take the matter to the International Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS.

On other issues that are not of technical nature but concern the internal activities of members, however, FIFA does not have control nor can it even interfere according to its own statutes! Its members are formed and registered as private organisations and conduct their business in accordance to the laws of the host countries. They are, therefore, subject to the laws of the country on all matters except those that are purely football related as stated earlier! That is why FIFA will only observe but never interfere in any domestic court proceedings until they find there is an incursion into their exclusive association football area.  The process of association elections, nature of the elections, those that can contest and all such issues are exclusively the internal affairs of the members and FIFA cannot and will not interfere. There are general guidelines issued by FIFA in a separate document called the FIFA Electoral Codes that are neither in FIFA’s statutes nor are the contents cast in stone.  Every country develops its own electoral rules and process to suit its domestic environment and internal dynamics. These issues touch on the rights of its members and can surely be challenged in a regular court of law.  The NFA is a corporate body that can sue and can be sued in regular courts on all issues that are not of a technical football nature (as in Laws of the Game and football activities).  Those are my thoughts and at the International Court of Arbitration I intend to remind FIFA of this just in case they have forgotten!

From my mail bag

I saw his mail and rushed to read it. It is not often that I receive a mail from one of the greatest athletes in the world of his time. When he was jumping in the mid-1970s he was the best jumper in the world. We were so sure of his own single Gold medal when we headed for Montreal, Canada, in 1976 for the Olympic games. It was a great blow to us as athletes when we were recalled by our government on the eve of the games in protest by several African countries against the apartheid regime in South Africa. Since then Charlton Ehizuelen and I have kept a good relationship but mostly by remote control. Last week I saw his mail in my box. It is compelling!

Hello Segun,

l am back in the USA again, after spending five months in Nigeria with my wife to simply  personally observe where one can make the most impact, in helping the youths develop using their God giving talents to achieve optimal performance.

l strongly believe that sports should be used as a rocket booster, to enable a talented youth achieve the best for themselves through education and competition,l am glad l visited Nigeria to see for myself. l also followed your intention to run for the NFF top position, a place that we all know truly needs professionals like you. l believe we must continue to strive and fight and l know that someday very soon, the fight and efforts we have put in will be rewarded because we refuse to give in and  because God rewards diligence and faithfulness.

While l was in Nigeria,l made no contact with anyone because l wanted to observe with a mind full of focus and a complete clarity. l am glad l did that.

l finally know now, that the rest of my life must be focused on the Nigerian youth with so much potential who has been grossly used and abused. l am glad that you have already engaged yourself in such service of minority recognition.

This is to let you know that l thank you for a thankless job that you have done for years for the Nigerian youth whose voice most don’t recognize and whose voice you have sounded loudly.

Finally, my regards to your family and please let us stay in touch.

God bless you and continue to nurture your seeds as you continue to plant them.

Sincerely,

Charlton Ehizuelen.

segunodegbami@hotmail.com