Crisis rocks Nigeria Football Supporters Club

Crisis has engulfed the Nigeria Football Supporters Club with conflicting statements emanating from the National Executive Council and the states chairmen.
At the end of its emergency meeting in Lagos on Saturday, the National Executive Council, in a statement signed by the acting Public Relations Officer, Balogun Hafeez, announced the sack of its acting National Chairman, Vincent Okumagba, for gross misconduct, anti-club activities, abuse of office and flagrant disrespect for constituted authority.
But a counter statement released by the forum of State Chairmen after a meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State on Sunday, demanded an end to Dr. Rafiu Ladipo’s reign as the leader of the body.
They instead want Okumagba to vacate office and allow another person to lead them.
According to Hafeez, since Okumagba was appointed in acting capacity, the club has known no peace.
Balogun said: “He was appointment in acting capacities since a court order stopped the planned elections. Since his appointment to the office, the club has not known peace. He introduced thuggery, harassment and indiscriminate arrest of members. Thus bringing indiscipline and intimidation to the club amongst others.”
Balogun disclosed further that before the latest misdeeds of Okumagba, the disciplinary committee once recommended him for six months suspension from office and all club activities.
But in a statement signed by Dr. Johnson Dagana, the forum of state chairmen not only threw their weight behind Okumagba, they also demanded the resignation of Ladipo.
The Chairmen, while briefing newsmen after its meeting in Ilorin on Sunday, said for someone to stay in a position for more than 30 years is no longer acceptable to them so the need for change in its leadership.
Dagana, who is also the Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter, said the forum wants an election to hold to usher in new executives.
He said: “Okumagba is our national chairman, we are fully backing him. We want him to be given absolute power but not the acting role it is now. We want him to take over as national chairman with full power, all the state chairmen are behind him. We have been clamouring for election because we believe that the only thing that is permanent is change. If a man stays in a position for sometimes, it should be with tenure.
“As chapter chairmen and secretaries, we have our own tenure, four years is our tenure.”
Also, Sir Okeke, the Treasurer of the forum and Enugu State Chairman, said the body is against the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club set up by Dr. Ladipo.
He said Dr. Ladipo created the body to cause confusion in Nigeria because he does not want to leave his current position.