The President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Tijani Babangida, has reaffirmed the associations commitment to the reconciliation process set up by the current Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Ibrahim Gusau.
In a statement personally signed by the former Super Eagles player, Babangida denied a media report credited to their association where it was alleged that the NFF president had concluded plans to kill PFAN in preference for the unveiling of a new players union.
He unequivocally denied such report coming from them, declaring further that it was the handiwork of mischief makers whose sole intention was to paint the association in bad light, and ultimately create a bad blood between them and the Nigeria football authority.
“My attention has been drawn to news circulating on social media, credited to PFAN leadership alleging that the President of the NFF, Mr. Ibrahim Gusau has concluded plans to “kill” PFAN in preference for the unveiling of a new player’s union linked with the ongoing reconciliation process under the leadership of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu,” Babangida said in a statement.
“After a fact finding exercise, I, as the President of PFAN, states unequivocally that the said news item did not emanate from the office of General Secretary Emmanuel Babayaro, and therefore a figment of imagination of the writer, and the handiwork of some faceless persons with a sinister motive of portraying the Union in a bad light before the Reconciliation Committee headed by Comrade Philip Shaibu and cause discontents among PFAN members.”
“In view of the foregoing, I, on behalf of the members of PFAN, hereby disassociate PFAN from the said publication. For the avoidance of any doubt, I wish to state categorically that PFAN believes in the ongoing reconciliation process and promise to see it through.”
We shall continue to be focused, until we get justice for ex-players and current players, who have been sidelined and shortchanged for too long. We appeal to our members to continue to support the cause of asking for our inalienable rights for appropriate representations on the NFF Board. We shall overcome,” the statement concluded.
