TELL Magazine

Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Friday emerged the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at its Annual General Assembly/Elective Congress held in Benin City, Edo State. Until his election, Gusau, a member of the Confederation of African Football, CAF committee, was the Chairman of Zamfara State Football Association. At the keenly contested election, Gusau polled a total of 39 votes to defeat other contestants in the race. Gusau won the election at the second ballot after the first could not produce a clear winner.In the earlier ballot, Gusau garnered 21 votes out of 41, the highest, which could not however earn him victory because he needed 50 percent plus one votes (50%+1 votes) – 22 votes – according to FIFA regulation, hence a second ballot.Other contestants, Abiodun Akinwunmi scored 12 votes, Shehu Dikko, six votes, while Peterside Idaho, former Super Eagles goalkeeper, and Abdullah Abba Yola, scored one vote each.Contestants like Dr. Chris Emeruwa, Amaze Uchegbulam, and David Doherty did not score any votes.However, before the second round of voting, Abiodun Akinwunmi, Abdullahi Yola, and Shehu Dikko withdrew from the contest leaving the duo of Idaho and Gusau to slug it out to determine the eventual winner.At the end of the exercise, Gusau was declared winner and President-elect with 39 votes, while Idaho scored just one vote.Earlier at the Congress, the outgoing NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, described the position as one of the hottest seats in Nigeria’s democratic system.In his farewell speech, Pinnick commended members of his executive council for the innovative ideas and support given to him during his tenure as president of the board.He said “I can’t thank God enough for His wonderful grace throughout these eight years of my administration as president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. In fact, I must say that it has been good, bad, and ugly. But all the same, we thank God for everything.”Everything you see in this documentary today, won’t have been possible without the input of my executive board members. They are the engine room of whatever successes we must have recorded in the past eight years. Yes, we quarrel and fight, but at the end, we settle and we forge ahead with the job. “I also want to thank all Nigerian football stakeholders that have stood beside us during this administration. I will ever remain grateful to you all. When I look at those fighting to step into my shoes, I just laugh. The NFF position is one of the hottest seats in Nigeria. I advise the person coming after me to always pray to God to give him the wisdom on how to manage enemies because whether you like it or not, there are always enemies to battle with. Alhaji Aminu Maigari handed over one indivisible congress to me; I will also hand over one indivisible congress to my successor”.Promising to support whoever would be elected president, Pinnick appealed “to stakeholders to avoid putting pressure on the president”, adding that “We must have to work with them to develop this game of football in our country”. The outgoing president reminded the incoming management that “As a member of FIFA council, I remain the boss of the NFF, so, whether you invite me to your Executive meetings or not, by my status as a member of FIFA Executive Council, I will continue to play a vital role in the NFF.”Pinnick thanked Edo State government for its support, noting that “They have always been at the forefront in ensuring that Nigeria regains her glory in world football history. So, as stakeholders, we must join hands to move the game forward.”In his remarks, Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, commended Pinnick for adequately representing Nigeria in the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), describing him as the face of Nigeria in the global football association.