PFAN rejects NFF’s peace committee, urges Federation to address issues in court

The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force, yesterday, rejected the Players Unions’ reconciliation committee inaugurated by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to settle the differences among factions of the players’ union.

NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, yesterday, in Abuja, inaugurated a five-man panel “to finally and fully restore peace to the rank of Nigeria’s retired and active football players.”

He implored the members to work assiduously towards erasing all forms of misgivings among the game’s major actors and allow Nigerian football to move forward in peace and tranquility.
 
Gusau said: “I have confidence in this team to put to rest the discord and bickering that we have witnessed among players’ bodies over the past years. There has been an unhealthy proliferation and this is not in the interest of peace and development of the game. We want to put a permanent end to the bitterness and divisive tendencies, so that we can move forward.”
 
He revealed that the Federation met with leaders of the two factions of the players’ union, where they deliberated on how to achieve reconciliation and peace.

“What is really important is recognition, celebration and inclusiveness. We don’t want to alienate anyone. Players are the key actors in the game and we have no reason not to carry them along,” he said.
 
At the head of the committee is Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, with former internationals, Emmanuel Okala, Dr. Felix Owolabi Akinloye and Garba Lawal, as members, while Abdulrafiu Yusuf will serve as secretary.

“The PFAN Task Force consider this report a serious mix up and urged the NFF to focus on resolving the issues pending in court as agreed in the December 6 meeting.”     

Faulting the report on the meeting the players’ union had with the NFF, Jalla agreed that PFAN met with the NFF and other stakeholders at the Sunday Dankaro House, Abuja, “in continuation of an ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiated by the Mohammed Kurfi led States Football Association Chairmen on the disputed September 30 NFF election, which is pending in the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.”

He added, however, that “the PFAN Task Force was looking forward to an independent committee to address urgent reforms, imbalance, equity and fair representation in the composition of the NFF Congress, its board and sub-committees in consonance with decisions reached at the meeting of December 6 and previous meetings.

“That the players union have no issues for reconciliation, and if even there are such issues, it is not within the purview of the NFF to set up a committee to address such issues.”