•Backs Pinnick’s candidature for CAF executive seat
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Federal Government has reiterated the resolution for Nigeria to throw its weight on the candidacy of Issa Hayatou for the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) presidency was purely based on political, diplomatic and national interests.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barr Solomon Dalung, who made the disclosure during a media parley to announce the 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay billed to arrive Nigeria on April 4, 2017, in Abuja yesterday, argued that having helped Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, Cameroon had proved to be a good neighbour.
While warning that on no account should the NFF go against the resolutions of the federal government, Bar Dalung said: “The federal government was elected based on change mantra and we are pursuing policies of positive changes in sports. Let me comment on the forthcoming CAF election, we have done many things out of the tradition concerning our participation in this election. But we allow things to go because of the change.
“I had expressed my feelings when I became the Sports Minister by asking why there was no Nigerians in the CAF executive committee. A country of 170 million and a major stakeholder cannot be stopped from playing active part. So, the position of the federal government on the president of the football federation, Amaju Pinnick contesting is never in doubt. It is very clear. We are supporting him and we are going full blast.
“However, for the presidency of CAF, when I invited the NFF I told them Nigeria’s position is to vote in favour of our national interest which is in the person of Issa Hayatou of Cameroon.