The Minister of Youth, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who also oversees the Ministry of Sports, has said that the Federal Government will obey the Federal High Court¸ Abuja, ruling which last Friday declared both the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria Premier League boards illegal.
Abdullahi, who is presently overseeing the National Sports Commission, which also houses the Sports ministry, following the sack of erstwhile Sports Minister, Yusuf Suleman, said in Ilorin that the judgement has thrown Nigerian football into a fresh mess.
Although, he admitted that before taking any action, the Commission’s legal department will look into the full details of the judgement and its implications and advise accordingly while the best option available to the country’s football and sports will be implemented.
The minister assured Nigerians that he would do the right thing, without fear or favour as far as sports development is concerned and would ensure that the right thing is done, including obeying the court order.
On the 2012 London Olympics, Abdullahi warned that only officials with known functions will make the Nigerian party, insisting that the era of jamboree was over.
“We cannot continue to ask Nigerians to make sacrifices while government officials live a life of profligacy. People and officials who have direct bearing will be at the Olympics, not the usual jamboree,” stressed the minister.
While recalling that Nigeria will participate in six sports, Abdullahi is to lead a team of officials from the country to London today to inspect the facilities earmarked for Team Nigeria.
“In this Olympics, we will do what is the best option for Nigeria. We will go to London to inspect the facilities and assess the level of preparedness of the Olympic organisers,” he noted.
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