NFA election: Police promise adequate security amidst high expectation in Warri

Ahead of the 2014 Election Congress of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) in Warri, the Delta Police Command has assured of adequate security.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, disclosed this on Sunday in a telephone interview.
“Though the NFA has not written officially to the police but we will give them the adequate security needed to ensure a hitch-free election,’’ she said.
The Chairman, Delta Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick, who is also one of the contestants in the election, said that Delta was fully prepared to host the election.
Similarly, Mike Ikeogwu, Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Delta chapter, promised to provide adequate media coverage of the election.
“Expectations are high and I am particularly happy about the NFA election coming up in Warri; I assure you, we are going to give it the best of coverage,’’ he said.
A grassroots football administrator, Anthony Uvwie, in his remarks, said that the election would put to rest the crisis that had rocked the NFA in the last four months.
He noted that Nigeria football had undergone some turbulence resulting in poor performance of the players in the last two qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa
“The two qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa in the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) was very poor because we failed to put our football house in order,’’ he said.
Also, a sport analyst in Warri, Timothy Mba urged the warring factions to sheath their swords and work together for the common interest of the nation’s football.
“What should be paramount to the NFA is how to qualify for the 2015 AFCON to be hosted by Morocco,’’ he said.
He said that the issue of who would take over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent Aminu Maigari as the federation’s president should been secondary.
“Crisis cannot take our football to the enviable height we desire.
“In fact, I am afraid that if the situation persists, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) may have no other option than to sanction Nigeria,’’ Mba said.
Another soccer enthusiast, Sunny Akpokona, said that he was optimistic that the election would be successful adding that any of the contestants that emerges winner would definitely improve the sport.
“We in Warri are very much ready to host the NFA come Sept. 30 and I am sure that all the contestants have what it takes to carry the nation’s football to the next level,’’ he said.
It would be recalled that the NFA converged on the ancient city of Warri on Sept. 20 to draw a roadmap to successfully host the election into the federation’s executive positions.
Prior to the Extra-ordinary general assembly of the federation, a Federal High Court in Jos issued an injunction restraining the NFA from holding the congress.
The NFA, however, denied receipt of any court order, claiming that they were not served.
A Warri-based lawyer and human rights activist, Oghenejabor Ikimi, said that legally, the NFA could go ahead with the election since they were not served with the court order.
“Everything in Nigeria is about desperation; they should stop the desperation, personal interest and greedy motives before FIFA raises its hammer on them.
“As far as I am concern, it is still a rumour since they were not served with the court injunction; so they can go ahead with the election,’’ he said. (NAN)