Embattled protagonist in the long tussle for leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ambassador Chris Giwa has hinted that he will not give up the battle to claim the mandate of being officially recognised as president of the soccer governing body.
Although Giwa disclosed in a media release that he appreciates the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung in brokering peace, in Abuja on April 27, 2018.the Jos-based football stakeholder stressed that his group is the legally recognised board of the NFF.
Giwa explained that he has legal justification to claim that he is the authentic president of the NFF, based on a ruling by the Federal High Court in Jos, which was upheld by a verdict at the Supreme Court in Abuja on April 27, 2018.
Giwa started by commending President Buhari for being a stickler to the rule of law, even in the face of pressure, and credited him for his efforts in finding a lasting solution to the leadership tussle in the football house.
He then hailed Dalung for also standing by the rule of law and defending the constitution of the nation, through his efforts in ensuring that what he called the legally recognized NFF board was respected and given a place of relevance.
Giwa stated: “We want to sincerely thank and commend His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development for standing by the rule of law, and defence of our constitution at all times.
“This has become necessary in the face of overt pressures, outright lies, falsehood, blackmail, intrigues, propaganda and orchestrated campaign of calumny against the government, President, Buhari, GCFR and the Honorable Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung have stood on the path of our constitution and the rule of law.
“We want to appreciate and thank all those, who have stood by the country and its constitution in this whole crisis, and we want to remind everyone, once again, this fight is not about Ambassador Chris Giwa, but about the soul of our football and our constitution.
“This fight is not about the people of Plateau State and the rest of the country, as some people, have tried mischievously to skew the narrative in that direction.
“We want to restate once again that our constitution is our grand norm, denigrating our Supreme Court under whatever colouration is a big threat to our existence as a people and our democracy.
“We want to remind the government that we are the legally recognized board of the NFF based on the orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, which was also affirmed by the Supreme Court on April 27, 2018.
“It is in the light of these observations that we want to appeal to government through the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung not to release any funds to the Amaju Pinnick led board purportedly elected on September 30,2014 because the board does not exist in law.
“Releasing funds to them will amount to an exercise in illegality, which the honourable minister himself being a lawyer should know.”
