NFF Presidency: Akinwunmi Declares Interest, Vows To Revamp Nigerian Football
By Lekan Sowande, Abuja.
The first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Seyi Akinwunmi, has declared his intention to run for the office of President in the forthcoming NFF election slated for next month in Benin City, Edo State.
Akinwunmi is seeking to succeed his principal and incumbent President, Amaju Pinnick, whose second term in office is ending in September 2022. He unveiled his presidential ambition before the gathering of the State FA chairmen, serving and past executive committee members of NFF, club owners, players, sports journalists.
Other stakeholders including traditional leaders were also present at the colourful ceremony at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. Akinwunmi promised to make Nigeria’s football great again if given the opportunity to govern the country’s football administration, focusing on grassroots development and ensuring the wellbeing of the players at all levels.
“Previously, I was the vice president of the NFF and should I clinch the ticket to be the president, it would be a different ball game and I would be able to take such decisions that I could not to take as the vice president,” Akinwunmi said.
“I promise to develop the country’s football at all levels if elected, and the world will know that there’s a change in the helm of affairs of football administration in Nigeria. As the NFF president-elect, every decision I’ll take would be in the interest of our football development. Football is in my heart.”
“I’ll start the processes of healing, and if I have the NFF presidency in my pockets and working Executive Committee that I will work with and a Congress that is forward looking, we will have a bigger session that will discuss the Football Master Plan in a bigger way along the rules of FIFA,” Akinwunmi added.
The NFF Elective Congress is scheduled for September 30 in Benin City, Edo State.
