Ahead of the August
2014 elections into
the board of the
Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF), Vice-President of
the current board Mike Okeke
Umeh, has disclosed given reason
the whole of the South-East
is backing Aminu Maigari’s return
as the president of the soccer
ruling body.
The South-East zone of the
Federation recently, passed a
vote of confidence on Maigari
at its summit held in Umuahia,
Abia State and Umeh who is the
leader of the South-East zone
praised Maigari’s easy-going
style that has given everyone in
the football sector a sense of
He stated that Maigari’s leadership
style opened the tap of
several successes on and off the
field and brought the Nigeria
football family under one big
“It is impossible for anyone
not to fall in love with Maigari’s
style,” Umeh said in Lagos at the
“The man has toed the wise
line all along and his style has
wooed even avowed critics of
the administration. And to cap it
all, there have been tremendous
accomplishments on and off
the field of play that has made
his the most successful football
administration in the country.
“His style allows everyone
with good ideas to contribute.
He is not dictatorial, even as he
insists on diligence, commitment
and hard work. And he places
national interest above all.”
No head of Nigeria’s football
governing authority has been
handed a second term since
Sunday Dankaro left office in
1981, but Umeh insists that
continuity and stability have
been the key words for strong
football federations and confederations
over the decades.
“The President of CAF, Alhaji
(Dr.) Issa Hayatou has been in
office for 26 years. Mr. Sepp
Blatter has been President of
FIFA for 16 years, after being
Secretary General for 17 years.
“The Senior Vice President
of FIFA Mr. Julio Grondona has
been President of Argentine
FA for several decades. And
we all remember that Mr. Joao
Havelange was President of
FIFA for 24 years. Let us give
Maigari one more term to
consolidate on his achievements.”
