Former Minister of Sports, Bala Ka’Oje, has urged the warring factions in the Nigeria Football Federation to embrace peace and work for the development of football in the country.
Ka’Oje gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.
The former minister was speaking against the backdrop of a recent court case that was re-instituted by the Chris Giwa-led group, which laid claim to the leadership of the NFF following an August 26, 2014 election.
He described litigations as “enemy of football development”.
He said he never encouraged such actions when he was in office.
Ka’Oje said: “One of the main things that I did was to make sure we don’t have cases in the court that divided our attention in terms of focusing on the realities of things for us to maintain leadership in football in Africa.
“I made sure also that there was peaceful coexistence between NFF, the players themselves and the coaches because if there is no peaceful coexistence, it’s difficult for them to work together as a team.
“Once you don’t have a team working together towards a certain goal, then you are very likely to lose focus and you will no longer be what you used to be.”
According to Ka’Oje, the decision by the Giwa-led group to take over the football secretariat will not only cause confusion in Nigeria’s football, but will also retard development of the game.
He said: “I have not been in support of them remaining in the glasshouse.
“I thought we are always thinking of going forward.
“So, if you are thinking of going forward, you have your own.
“Why can’t you go and occupy your own and make it better?
“Why do you have to stay somewhere that does not belong to you?
“As far as that is concerned, I am not impressed.”
Ka’Oje expressed regret that the country had been ranked 66th in world football and 14th in Africa.
He, therefore, called on the country’s football administrators to ensure that all necessary steps were taken to improve Nigeria’s ranking.
NAN.
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