Para-sports elections not matter of life and death, outgoing federation president says 

Misbahu Didi, the outgoing President of Para-Soccer Federation of Nigeria, says his participation in the 2018 para-sports federation elections is not a “matter of life and death’’.
Didi told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja that he was ready to abide by the rules guiding the elections slated for Thursday.
NAN recalls that Didi was elected as the para-soccer federation president four years ago.
He lays claim to helping the sport gain huge prominence as a national sport since its invention in 1988.
Didi said he would respect the decision of the majority at the elections which would hold in Abuja.
He said: “Members are at liberty to choose whoever they want to run the affairs of the sport. I am already a board member.
“If I am found worthy of being the federation’s President again, I will not let the federation down. Together we will take the sport to the continental and international levels in the next four years.
“But, if I am not elected, I will support whoever emerges as the president to ensure that para-soccer becomes an international game and para-soccer athletes are positively engaged through the sport.”
Didi said the game, which emerged from Nigeria, has the potential of making life more meaningful for polio survivors in the continent and around the world.
He said this led to his commitment to ensuring it attains international acceptance.
He said: “We have captured the nation (Nigeria) with para-soccer as we now have national league and zonal competitions, and we thank the media and other stakeholders for making this possible.
“International development will be my focus if re-elected. We will start with the neighbouring countries, and then the continent, before taking it to the international level.
“Everyone has people with disabilities. We want to use the game to give them a sense of belonging.
“I will also visit other countries to sensitise them to the potential of the game if re-elected as president of PFN.”
He said paucity of funds and lack of sponsorship are the major hindrance to the propagation of the game in the continent.
NAN reports that the para-soccer game was invented in Nigeria in 1988 for people who are paraplegic.
It is played by sitting on a skate board while playing ball with their hands and body.