Sani Lulu is the cause of his own fall

As chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and later chairman of the board of Bayelsa United football club of Yenagoa, I had met Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdulahi a number of times. In fact, I voted for him during the 2006 election that crowned him as chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA)- as it was known then. I did so because I was convinced about his personality. I was therefore taken aback when news started filtering out of the Glass House about the near absence of transparency and accountability in the running of the nation’s football governiy others, I had warned him about the dangers of allowing himself to be blinded and used by members of his kitchen cabinet. I had also warned him that Nigerians would soon get tired of him. With certainty, I equally told him that members of his kitchen cabinet would deny him as soon as their boat starts sinking. This is exactly what happened when the just impeached first vice president of the NFF, Mr. Amanze Uchegbulam cried out that he was only a victim of institutional loyalty. He tried to convince those that had enough patience to listen that he was invited by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) simply because he was loyal to Sani Lulu. Uchegbulam went ahead to argue that he is not the approving authority of the NFF and wondered why he should be invited to answer questions bothering on finances of the board. It is unfortunate that Lulu would not have a second opportunity to preside over Nigerian football. If he had, there is no doubt in my mind that he would not touch the once invincible duo of Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi even with a hundred metre long pole.

Sani Lulu’s problem started when he decided to dismantle all internal mechanisms available to check corruption and maladministration in the NFF. Nigerian football was run like a private estate. Members of the executive committee of the NFF that demanded greater transparency in the administration of Nigerian football were either suspended or sidelined. It would be recalled that Dr. Peter Singabele was suspended for close to two years for daring to tell Nigerians the truth about the rot that has become of the Glass House. With this action, Sani Lulu and his kitchen cabinet were able to barb the head of Nigerian tax payers with reckless abandon until President Goodluck Jonathan pumped the brakes.

I am joining all other well-meaning Nigerians and friends of the country to thank President Jonathan for powering on the internal mechanisms for checking corruption and maladministration in the NFF. It is my prayer that the president leadership do not turn it off the power button later. After all, it does not need PHCN to function properly. More than that, the EFCC must not allow this matter to go the way of others. This is an opportunity to stop corruption in the sports sector. We all know that it is as a result of corruption that the private sector is not attracted to invest in the sports industry in Nigeria. Sports is big business. It is time for government put in place plans to hands off sports. This can only be successful if corruption is eliminated in the sector. To eliminate corruption, the culture of transparency and accountability must be encouraged. Those that fall fowl of the law should be punished.

Before now, members of the kitchen cabinet had always hidden behind the banner of FIFA to rape the treasuries of the NFF. Whenever questions are asked concerning the finances of the NFF, threats of sanctions are invoked against Nigeria. It is unreasonable for the NFF to collect billions of naira from government and expect it to keep quiet when things are not done properly. This is an insult and against all human and public protocols. Even in countries like Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy etc where public money is not used to fund football, government still make inputs. It is close to treason for any Nigerian to connive with FIFA or any other organisation to undermine the integrity of this nation. Thank God, FIFA is beginning to appreciate the important place of government in the development of football especially in Africa.

But above all, members of the NFF and state FAs should not wait for government to take extreme actions before doing what is right. With the impeachment of Lulu and his kitchen cabinet, many persons that criticised the actions of the president have now seen the wisdom in the decision to withdraw Nigeria from all international football competitions. Tough problems need tough actions too. Carry Go, EFCC.