Mixed reactions trail Galadima's nomination

By Ifeanyi Ibeh with agency reports


November 28, 2010

Four years ago, Ibrahim Galadima became one of the least popular people in the country for his comments after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Nigerians who were only then coming to terms with the fact that the Super Eagles were not going to the Mundial in Germany got furious that the head of the football house was quoted as saying that qualification for the biggest football event in the world was not Nigeria's "birthright."

Such was the public uproar that not a lot of eyelids were batted when the then sports minister Ismaila Sambawa decided to nullify the outcome of the polls re-electing Galadima as the NFF boss.

However, just over a week ago, the man under whose tenure Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since making a debut appearance at the tournament in the United States of America back in 1994 was nominated as the country's representative ahead of next February's elections into the executive committee of Africa's football governing body, CAF.

And if Galadima or anybody in the NFF thought four years was enough to make the majority of Nigerians forget the memories of that 2006 World Cup failure, they were proved wrong because as soon as news of his nomination emerged, criticisms came from all directions.

Old sins still fresh

From former footballers like Emeka Ezeugo, Nduka Ugbade, Steve Abarowei and Jonathan Akpoborie, to football analyst Bode Oguntuyi, as well as sports writer Dare Esan, the general opinion was that the Kano based businessman was not good enough to fly the country's flag at the polls taking place in Khartoum next year. He will be up against the respective heads of the football associations of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Kwesi Nyantakyi and Jacques Anouma.

The Galadima critics opined that other candidates such as former Nigerian internationals Segun Odegbami and Adokie Amiesimaka, as well as a former handler of the Super Eagles and FIFA technical instructor Adeboye Onigbinde would have been better placed to vie for a spot in the executive arm of the continental body.

"There are lots of other Nigerians who can represent us and do a better job like Odegbami, Adokie and even Onigbinde," Oguntuyi told NEXT in Lagos. "These are people I believe that can elevate Nigeria's status in CAF and FIFA but I guess they were not even considered in the first place by those that nominated Galadima."

"A lot of politicking takes place within CAF and FIFA but these organisations also know the importance of having technocrats and that's why we need the likes of Adokie and Odegbami who can represent Nigeria in CAF and FIFA the way the late Patrick Okpomo did," added Esan, editor of Nigerian sports daily, Complete Sports, recalling the late secretary general of the Nigerian FA, Okpomo, who died in 2004.

Efforts by NEXTSports to get the acting secretary general of the NFF, Musa Amadu to comment on how Galadima's name emerged from the discreet selection process proved abortive as the NFF scribe refused to comment on the matter offering instead to speak on the issue at some other time.

Subsequent efforts also failed to yield positive fruits as NEXTSports was informed by an official in the NFF secretariat that Amadu, along with a handful of board members had journeyed to Germany for last Thursday's international friendly between the Super Falcons and their German counterparts.

Galadima also refused to comment on his nomination when NEXTSports got in touch with him but he had earlier told the BBC why he decided at this point to come out of his shell.

And according to him, winning a place on CAF's executive committee would give him the chance to help rebuild the organisation's image and salvage the continent's dignity especially in the light of the recent suspension of four of the continent's top football administrators by FIFA, including Nigeria's Amos Adamu.

Project Galadima

"It's not a Galadima project but that of Nigeria and Africa," Galadima told the BBC.

"There are several aspects of the African game that require development. Our youth and club football needs to develop and the women's game must take a professional path as well." He then added: "The entire set-up needs change, which I hope to bring on board. The NFF has put me forward with the backing of the sports ministry in Nigeria not because I'm the best amongst several millions.

"They are confident I can represent Nigeria and the continent to the best of my ability." The decision of the NFF and the sports ministry didn't however go down well with Adamu whose seat Galadima will be vying for at next February's CAF Congress.

This is because Adamu recently launched an appeal against his three-year suspension by FIFA over a cash-for-votes scandal and felt the NFF's decision could lead to confusion if his appeal is successful at the end of the day.

There are however a cross section of individuals, mostly those who have had a first-hand experience of working with Galadima who believe his nomination is a step in the right direction.

One of those who see the move in a positive light is former NFF executive member Taiwo Ogunjobi, who worked as the FA's scribe under Galadima.

"I think Galadima's nomination was well thought out and I am hopeful that he will represent the country very well on the CAF Executive Committee board," said Ogunjobi in a chart with Supersport.com.

"He is a man of integrity and having worked very closely with him some years back, I can say without hesitation that his candidature will bring good tidings to both the image of the country and indeed the development of the game both in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa," he added.

Another is former member of the Federal House of Representatives Lumumba Adeh. "I want to call on all well meaning Nigerians to give total support to Galadima's candidature. The government has a special role to play because it is going to involve diplomacy and stuffs like that."