Reinstated general-secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Sanusi Mohammed has sent a thank-you message to President Muhammadu Buhari for the directive that got him back into office.
After returning to The Glasshouse on Monday, in a sweeping move that also shot Amaju Pinnick back into his post as NFF president, Sanusi heaped praises on President Buhari for his directive that has ensured a resolution of a long-drawn leadership tussle in the football body.
This came after operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the NFF secretariat in Abuja on Monday morning with orders to restore normalcy to the place, and were later joined by Sanusi, who received a letter from the Minister for Justice that Nigeria would respect world football body, FIFA’s position on the matter.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had stated in unambiguous terms on the margin of the 2018 FIFA World Cup final match in Moscow, Russia penultimate week that the global body only recognized Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as the President of Nigeria Football Federation.
Three weeks ago, a group led by Ambassador Chris Giwa stormed the NFF Secretariat and took control, on the strength of a court ruling.
However, with the new directive, the executive board led by Pinnick, who is also the new first vice-president of Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been restored to office.
An excited and appreciative Sanusi declared: “We cannot thank His Excellency enough for his action in restoring order to the Football House.
“By this single action, our President has restored hope to millions of Nigerian youth and the not-so-young who are involved in one way or the other in the football business. Now they can live and breathe their favourite game once more.
“All plans and programmes of the various National Teams will proceed accordingly, and we also believe the League Management Company will now put arrangements in place for the resumption of the Nigeria Professional Football League.”
