NFF crisis: I don’t have ulterior motives, says Dalung

YOUTH and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has debunked insinuations that he is biased in his handling of Chris Giwa’s attempt at seizing the administration of football in the country.

Dalung made the denial while welcoming a delegation from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), led by its Director General, Mr. Sola Omole, who visited his office to solicit his support and partnership on a book project.

According to the Dalung, no responsible minister would fold his arms when a group involved in the football administration crisis formally petitioned him, expressing their intention to take over the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

He said the development made him forward the protest letter to the other group, asking for their own side of the story after which he summoned a meeting between the parties for a rapprochement.

Dalung, who said his intervention was borne out of national interest, explained that his action prevented the snowballing of the issue into an embarrassment for the nation and assured the public that fruitful discussion was on going behind the scene.

Earlier on, the Director General of NTA, while explaining their mission, solicited the support of the minister on a book project, which highlights various achievements of the NTA in sports, dating back to 1884.

He explained that the initiative was meant to document in permanent form the country’s forays in sports and the giant strides of both male and female athletes in the book entitled, “Nigeria Sports Book of Records 1884 to 2015.” 

“We thought it will be something good for the records that the successes of men and women, who were responsible for those successes that Nigeria has recorded over so many years is told in permanent form because a story not told in permanent form gets lost very easily.

“Omole also urged the minister to help secure broadcast rights for the NTA whenever major sporting events were held in Nigeria or Africa, arguing that as the largest television network in Africa, boasting 187 stations, no other station in the continent has the kind of wide-reach.

Responding, the minister pledged his support for the book project, describing it as a platform through which Nigerians could read and tell the story of their root sport wise.

He also described documentation in permanent form as very critical to nation building, praising the book initiative as a laudable way of immortalizing sporting heroes and heroines, as well as encouraging the upcoming ones to strive for excellence as their sacrifices will not be forgotten.