Since the emergence of Ifeanyi Ubah as the undisputed Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association twice, the body language of the NFF has been funny if not absurd so it is necessary that we take a closer look and see if the NFF has a point after all or they are simply dancing naked in the market square.
Amaju Pinnick, NFF President
Before we proceed, it is vital that we take note of some key laws as enacted by the NFF Statutes of 2010, which is also assimilated down to the State Football Associations and Local Football Councils in Nigeria
1. Article 1 section 1 of the NFF statutes "The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), is a private organization of an associative nature in compliance with the laws of Nigeria" ... This simply means that just like the NFF, the Anambra State Football Association is a private organization also in compliance with the laws of Anambra State and Nigeria. Thus, it is immune to and doesn't recognise Government interference. This is why the Anambra State Government, lacks the powers to dictate when, how and where elections can hold in the Association as it tried to do a few days ago
2. Article 2 section E states "to respect and prevent any infringement of the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, CAF, WAFU, and NFF as well as the Laws of the Game and to ensure that these are also respected by its members"... The NFF is guilty of breaching this law by blatantly refusing to acknowledge the duly elected Chairman of Anambra State Football Association as voted by the Anambra State Football Congress, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Ubah not once but twice
3. Article 3 states:
"1. NFF is neutral in matters of politics and religion
2. Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, POLITICS, or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by SUSPENSION or EXPULSION" ... Again the NFF is guilty of breaking this law because it is public knowledge that Sen Ifeanyi Ubah and the present administration of Anambra State are not just rivals but belong to different political inclinations and thus, the NFF through Gusau, has no right to take the side of the government as his proclamations not only supports the government but edifies the interference of the State government in Anambra State Football. Gusau's actions and the body language of the NFF presently, can be expressly interpretated as pure discrimination against the Anambra State Association Chairman, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and thus, Gusau and his cohorts, should be expelled from the NFF and banned from all footballing activities as stipulated in the law
4. Article 9 section 1 reads "The General Assembly shall decide whether to admit, suspend or expel a member" as supported by Article 14 .. The Anambra State Football Congress, appointed Emeka Ralph as its Acting Secretary when Onyedika Chijioke went AWOL during the election period only to resurface on the kangaroo nomination list, showing that he played an active part in sabotaging the success and smooth transition of the Anambra State FA elections
5. Article 10 section 1 states "The members of NFF are: (a) State Football Associations including the FCT... while Article 36 section 3 states "Any member of the Executive Committee must withdraw from the debate if there is any risk or possibility of conflict on interests with a member of NFF" ... By the pronouncment circulated this morning and accredited to the NFF executive committee, it is clear that those involved has violated the above statutes as they have actively involved themselves in a debate against the clear wish of the Anambra State Football Association, which empowered by the Anambra State Congress, have elected Ifeanyi Ubah as the undisputed Chairman. By the above law, the publication is null and void
6. Article 18 section 2 states "The affiliated State Football Associations, Clubs, Leagues and Groups of NFF shall take all decisions on any matters regarding their membership independently of any external body. This obligation applies regardless of their corporate structure"... The Anambra State Football Congress had never at any instance, called on the National Body to assist it with decision making of any kind rather, it had gone about its legitimate business of ensuring a smooth very conclusive and peaceful resolution whereby more than 90% of the Congress adopted Ifeanyi Ubah as the Chairman. This means that the NFF which is an external body in this matter, is of little consequence and thus, its opinion is just for academic purposes as it has no bearing whatsoever on the final decision of the Anambra State Football Congress.
....to be continued.
Amaju Pinnick, NFF President
Before we proceed, it is vital that we take note of some key laws as enacted by the NFF Statutes of 2010, which is also assimilated down to the State Football Associations and Local Football Councils in Nigeria
1. Article 1 section 1 of the NFF statutes "The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), is a private organization of an associative nature in compliance with the laws of Nigeria" ... This simply means that just like the NFF, the Anambra State Football Association is a private organization also in compliance with the laws of Anambra State and Nigeria. Thus, it is immune to and doesn't recognise Government interference. This is why the Anambra State Government, lacks the powers to dictate when, how and where elections can hold in the Association as it tried to do a few days ago
2. Article 2 section E states "to respect and prevent any infringement of the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, CAF, WAFU, and NFF as well as the Laws of the Game and to ensure that these are also respected by its members"... The NFF is guilty of breaching this law by blatantly refusing to acknowledge the duly elected Chairman of Anambra State Football Association as voted by the Anambra State Football Congress, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Ubah not once but twice
3. Article 3 states:
"1. NFF is neutral in matters of politics and religion
2. Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, POLITICS, or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by SUSPENSION or EXPULSION" ... Again the NFF is guilty of breaking this law because it is public knowledge that Sen Ifeanyi Ubah and the present administration of Anambra State are not just rivals but belong to different political inclinations and thus, the NFF through Gusau, has no right to take the side of the government as his proclamations not only supports the government but edifies the interference of the State government in Anambra State Football. Gusau's actions and the body language of the NFF presently, can be expressly interpretated as pure discrimination against the Anambra State Association Chairman, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and thus, Gusau and his cohorts, should be expelled from the NFF and banned from all footballing activities as stipulated in the law
4. Article 9 section 1 reads "The General Assembly shall decide whether to admit, suspend or expel a member" as supported by Article 14 .. The Anambra State Football Congress, appointed Emeka Ralph as its Acting Secretary when Onyedika Chijioke went AWOL during the election period only to resurface on the kangaroo nomination list, showing that he played an active part in sabotaging the success and smooth transition of the Anambra State FA elections
5. Article 10 section 1 states "The members of NFF are: (a) State Football Associations including the FCT... while Article 36 section 3 states "Any member of the Executive Committee must withdraw from the debate if there is any risk or possibility of conflict on interests with a member of NFF" ... By the pronouncment circulated this morning and accredited to the NFF executive committee, it is clear that those involved has violated the above statutes as they have actively involved themselves in a debate against the clear wish of the Anambra State Football Association, which empowered by the Anambra State Congress, have elected Ifeanyi Ubah as the undisputed Chairman. By the above law, the publication is null and void
6. Article 18 section 2 states "The affiliated State Football Associations, Clubs, Leagues and Groups of NFF shall take all decisions on any matters regarding their membership independently of any external body. This obligation applies regardless of their corporate structure"... The Anambra State Football Congress had never at any instance, called on the National Body to assist it with decision making of any kind rather, it had gone about its legitimate business of ensuring a smooth very conclusive and peaceful resolution whereby more than 90% of the Congress adopted Ifeanyi Ubah as the Chairman. This means that the NFF which is an external body in this matter, is of little consequence and thus, its opinion is just for academic purposes as it has no bearing whatsoever on the final decision of the Anambra State Football Congress.
....to be continued.
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