The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has heaped praises on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his fatherly role in the promotion of peace within the Nigeria football family.
Jonathan called a truce meeting involving leading figures in Nigeria football on Wednesday, which effectively led to the resolution of a leadership crisis that threatened the very soul of the game in Nigeria.
Pinnick said of the move in Abuja: “President Jonathan’s keen personal interest and fatherly role has enabled the eventual peaceful resolution of a disturbing crisis, and I wish to express the heartfelt appreciation of the entire Nigeria football family to His Excellency.
“We are all very grateful to him as he has once more demonstrated his well-known love for our football and we can never thank him enough.”
The NFF boss also commended the efforts of Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo; Ambassador Chris Giwa and others who played roles in resolving the leadership tussle.
Pinnick added: “I want to assure President Jonathan and all top Government officials who played one role or the other in the resolution of the crisis that the NFF is now much stronger and able to confront the challenges of painstaking developing the game to take our football to new heights.
“The football family is also more united and we assure the Giwa group that we will sit down and see how and where they can make lasting contributions to the development of the Nigeria game.”
Nigeria has avoided a looming FIFA axe after the group led by Ambassador Giwa opted to discontinue its case at the Federal High Court, Jos in Plateau State when hearing was about to resume on Thursday.
The move has effectively killed off the court case and means the Pinnick-led NFF Executive Committee can continue to administer Nigeria football without any interference or hindrance, which was the demand made by FIFA in its letter of October 28, 2014.
The country has therefore beaten the deadline of midday of Friday given by the world football-governing body for the resolution of the crisis.