The much anticipated long lasting solution for peace at last might have come the way of Nigerian football. This is due to the peace deal brokered by the sports minister of the country, honourable Bolaji Adullahi inconjuction with stakeholders and the key actors of the dispute, namely Dr. SamSam Jaja and Ray Nnaji.
It would be recalled that Dr. Sam Sam Jaja was disqualified to contest the election that brought the present crop of Nigeria Football Federation NFF members which made Dr. Sam Sam Jaja to take the board to court, saying that the momenclature of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Premier League (NPL) are both illegal.
Dr. Sam Sam Jaja got victory in the court which also attracted the attention of FIFA. Like the father and peace maker he is, the Sports Minister intervened without prejudice to broker peace between the duo who took the Nigerian Football authority to court to sheath their swords
For Ray Nnaji the suspension clamped on him was to be lifted and the Nigeria Football Federation was also told to pay reasonable compensation to him. He was to benefit all his outstanding referee allowances subject to verification.
Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, would be appointed Honourary member of the NFF and a letter of unreserved apology would be tendered by the NFF and Jaja on his part was asked not to enforce the judgment suit number FHC-ABJ-179-10 delivered on the 20th of January 2012 in his favour.
The peace deal ended in bringing both the NFF board and the duo of Dr. Sam Sam Jaja and Barr. Nnaji together amicably. All parties involved agreed to ensure that proper documentation of both the league and the board are completed.
Stakeholders present at the peace deal were Dr. Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, his first vice president, Chief Mike Umeh, second Vice president Rumson Baribote, NFF scribe, Barr. Musa Amadu, all signed in their capacities as stakeholders, while both Dr. Jaja and Barr. Ray Nnaji signed in their respective capacities as stakeholders.
This is commendable; the step taken by the sports minister has proved that he is indeed a sports journalist of reputable class. Like what The Newswriter sports desk earlier said when he was first appointed as the sports minister of the country, he knows what to do as one who had written many pieces in a bid to shape the country’s sports industry. Now that he has the opportunity directly to make all the changes he had been agitating for, he has no excuse whatsoever. Really he had proved himself to Nigerians as a worthy sports journalist of the age. His appointment as sports minister was not misplaced at all. ###
Allanso
