It was a momentous occasion at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) office on Tuesday morning as Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, a member of the CAF Executive Committee and the FIFA Council, officially handed the NFF’s reins over to Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the winner of the presidential election at the September 30 Elective General Assembly held in Benin City.
Standing ovations greeted Pinnick as he entered the NFF Conference Room at the Sunday Dankaro House from Alhaji Gusau, Board Members Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, Ms. Aisha Falode, Rt. Hon. Essien Udofot, and Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, Deputy General Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, and other members of Management.
Pinnick reaffirmed that he was still a part of the system and would continue to be accessible to provide advice and suggestions whenever they are requested, and he tasked the Management and Staff to support Gusau and the new Board as fully as they supported him and his team.
“I thank you for your loyalty and support in the past eight years, and the encouragement and support of the Board that I worked with. It was an awesome experience all through and I give God the glory. Football is the winner. I ask for the forgiveness of all those that I might have offended one way or the other, and I crave your support for the new team.
“The General Secretary is a formidable individual, a great administrator and a good man at heart. He is a man capable of stabilizing the new Board. I have no doubt that alongside other members of Management and Staff, they will propel Nigeria Football to new heights.
“As a FIFA Council Member, I am technically in charge of 22 countries including Nigeria. I will always do my best to protect and project the interests of Nigeria at all times. My administration gave its all and raised funds for the programme of the NFF and the National Teams, and built discipline within the National Teams. However, I see the new administration surpassing whatever we achieved. The new President is a strategist who is humble, dynamic and innovative.”
In his answer, the NFF President praised the historic occasion and said that the excellent rapport that had been developed between the members of the previous board within eight years was reflected in the cordial interaction between the old and new guards.
“We assure you, Mr. Pinnick, that we will always reach out to you for your advice and encouragement whenever the need arises. We wish you the very best in your duties and tasks at FIFA and CAF.”
