We’ll continue to put football first, says Akinwunmi after botched NFF presidential bid

By Wale Mustapha

It is no longer news that elections to herald the new Nigeria Football Federation, NFF leadership has been held and new executives have emerged a week ago.

However one cannot but expect reactions, celebrations, mixed feelings or conceding defeats from the much talked about poll held in Benin, Edo State. One of the defeated aspirants for the top seat of the federation was former first Vice President of NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.

Bar. Akinwunmi lost the first round of the poll to eventual winner Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau but decided to toe the path of a spirited sportsmanship by pulling out of the the run off.

Bar. Akinwunmi who is also the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association has however congratulated Alhaji Gusau on his emergence which described as the wish of the football stakeholders.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the distinguished legal luminary, the FOOTBALL FIRST campaign slogan was also a mantra which means the progress of Nigerian football super cedes interest of any individual.

Bar. Akinwunmi who has offered himself to support the new leadership has also called on other football stakeholders to team up with Gusau led federation to raise the standard of Nigerian football.

“On Friday 30th September 2022, the Nigeria Football Federation concluded the election of a new President and Executive Committee,” wrote Barrister Akinwunmi who was NFF first Vice President between 2014 and 2022.

“My team and I made the difficult decision not to participate in the run-off when the first-round vote did not produce a winner, because FOOTBALL FIRST was not just a campaign slogan, it is a mantra. We therefore decided to seize the moment to consider the interest of all Nigerian Football stakeholders and exhibit the spirit of FOOTBALL FIRST.

“I will like to specially appreciate my family, members of the NFF congress, my colleagues on the erstwhile NFF Executive Committee, my campaign team, supporters, friends, the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Football Association, Akinwunmi & Busari Legal Practitioners and those without whom there would have been no campaign (they know themselves), for their unreserved support throughout the campaign. May God continue to bless and enrich us all.

“Whilst congratulating the newly elected NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, and all the winners, let it be known that my passion for the transformation of our Football and its development will not wane. I assure you all that the FOOTBALL FIRST dream remains alive. God bless Nigeria.”