I have decided to devote this week’s column to expressing profound gratitude to all the people, organisations and countries that supported the clamour for me to join the race for the presidency of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA). I am humbled by the outpouring of love and support from all over the world; even from persons and groups I had never met.
Never in my wildest imaginations did I anticipate the kind of solidarity I received while the clamour lasted.
Even though I declined to offer myself to contest for the office of FIFA Presidency, I was eminently qualified to vie. Without sounding immodest I can state that I have contributed significantly to the development of soccer in the world. Apart from openly promoting some football clubs in Nigeria I have as well quietly sponsored individual sports men and women to different tournaments locally and internationally.
My passion for football began in my early days at Aba. From those early days till now I have never ignored any opportunity to support the sport. My managerial ability in the game came to the fore during my days at Government College, Umuahia, where I served as the Manager of the college football team.
So, it was not a surprise that I later in life got involved in facilitating two major football clubs in Nigeria. My love for Enyimba Football Club started quite a long time ago. In fact, ever before I became the governor of Abia State in 1999, I had been supporting Enyimba F.C. At a time, when the club was in dire straits, I offered assistance to it in cash and purchase of a 32-seater coaster bus.
The support for Enyimba got to a point that the state government, under the military, almost offered to sell the club to me. The deal did not pull through before I became governor.
My emergence as governor offered me the platform I had always wanted to restructure the club and make it a winning team. It took us less than one year to attain the initial height we had envisioned for the club.
I will devote a little time to the exploits of Enyimba in the course of this piece, but permit at this juncture to attempt to name and appreciate all those that supported the clamour for me to run for the office of FIFA Presidency. Before I do so, I wish to state categorically that I did not at any time throw my hat into the ring to contest for the presidency of FIFA. What I said from the outset was that I was consulting to know if it was auspicious me to join the race or not.
Interestingly, many people misconstrued this to mean that I had already made up my mind to contest. Calls from different corners of the universe, even from unexpected quarters, started inundating my phones the moment the news hit town that I was aspiring for the office. My social media platforms were not spared. We received over 1000 messages daily from all the platforms put together. The messages have continued to stream in two weeks after I had officially declined the offer to contest.
Though I never categorically stated anywhere that I was going to contests for the office of FIFA presidency, I must confess that I was overwhelmed by the massive support I received. The support base cut across every stratum of our society and, even, beyond.
In fact, it got to a point that the outpouring of confidence and sentiments became too much for me to bear any longer. I never knew that the world appreciated me this much despite my unworthiness.
When I took it upon myself to promote sports generally, I never knew that a day like this would come. I rose from a school’s games prefect to club promoter. As governor (1999-2007) we did everything possible to save Enyimba Football Club of Aba from impending relegation in 1999. From that moment there was no stopping Enyimba. Under my watch, the team won Nigeria’s Challenge Cup consecutively and followed this scintillating performance by winning the elusive CAF Champions Cup back to back. Today Enyimba has emerged the winners of the Nigerian Professional League for the current season, even with a match to go. This makes it the seventh time the club is clinching the league trophy.
We also founded the Orji Kalu Babes (now known as Abia Warriors). The club rose meteorically from the Third Division to the elite Premiership. Today Abia Warriors are doing well in the league.
I have given this brief resume to drive home the point that no good deed would ever go unrewarded in life. We contributed our little quota to the development of soccer across the globe and the dividends have started pouring.
So to be considered for the headship of the world football governing body was one of the greatest honours I have ever received while still alive.
Let me start by thanking specially individuals that supported the aspiration. They included Heads of State and governments, soccer lovers, business men and women, footballers, sports administrators, members of states and national assemblies, governors, traditional rulers, church leaders and Imams, etc.
I thank most sincerely the President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, for his deep and sincere solidarity. He was ready to mobilize the FIFA machinery for me. I thank other top ranking members of his team who also promised to support me if I had indicated interest to contest.
The same gratitude goes to the football legend, Pele of Brazil, who urged me to contest. He has remained a very useful friend to me.
What of my long-time friend, Dr. Amos Adamu? His support was infectious, persistent, deep and sincere. He made several phone calls and paid personal visits to try to convince me to run. I know he must be gravely disappointed that I did not run eventually. I beg him to find a place in his heart to forgive.
Chief Chukwuma of Gabros was of immense support. He mobilized the entire Nnewi Business Group for me. God bless and keep him.
My friend and Chairman of GLOBACOM, Mike Adenuga, Jnr. (Alias the Bull), was simply amazing. He has never spared any opportunity to encourage and support my dreams. This time he was ready to take it to another level. I pray God to continue to inspire and bless him and his enterprises.
As I indicated earlier numerous organizations and bodies supported me with their prayerful wishes, visits, newspaper advertisements, etc. Among them were the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Nigerian Football Federation ably led by Pinnick; European Union, African, North American and Caribbean countries; business groups such as Alaba, Oshodi, ASPAMDA; sports agencies, sports marketing companies, Alumni Associations, corporate bodies, churches and mosques, etc.
These individuals and organizations contributed their time, talents, money and energy to the project. Your contributions would never be in vain. God will reward you a hundredfold.
It is important to use this opportunity to clear the air over speculations in certain quarters why I chose not to run for the office of FIFA presidency. As I had already indicated in this piece I never wrote anybody or organization that I wanted to run for FIFA presidency. I only said that I was consulting to see the possibility or otherwise of running.
The reason I chose not to run eventually is known to me alone and may be told in future, if I so chose.
The important thing for now is that we all agreed that there was need for paradigm shift in the management of FIFA and that Africa possesses the wherewithal to offer the federation untainted and quality leadership.
There is nothing Africa sets its eyes on it cannot achieve. It has the potentialities to rule the world if we could pull resources and work as a people.
We have individuals and organizations that have prodigious talents and ideas on how to make Africa rule the world. What we achieved with Enyimba Football Club was never imagined by anybody to be practicable. We were undaunted by the enormity of the tasks that we faced. We set our eyes on the destination. Nobody ever thought it an achievable goal for Enyimba to aspire to win the elusive CAF Championship Cup. For 38 years Nigeria fought tooth and nail to clinch the trophy, to no avail. But it took us less than two years to plan to win it. In the end God was propitious to our prayers and we won the cup.
It is on record that Africa has not won the World Cup. Once we played host to it and lost. I believe strongly that we have what it takes to win the cup. After all, many African countries have won other world cup championships, but not the Senior World Cup.
Only last Sunday the Golden Eaglets tutored by Emmanuel Amuneke won again the Under 17 World Cup in Chile by defeating their African counterparts, Mali, 2-0. That the final was between two African countries tells a story about the capability of Africa, particularly Nigeria, to lift the senior world cup.
The performance of Nigeria and Mali in the just-concluded tournament is something for posterity. Even FIFA acknowledged this fact by the content of the message CAF acting President Issa Hayatou sent to the two teams before the final on Sunday.
To get to the finals Nigeria walloped the United States 3-0, Chile 6-1, Brazil 3-0 and Mexico 4-2. These are soccer giants in their respective rights, yet they fell to the superior firepower of Nigeria.
Something in me tells me we can win the Senior World Cup next time round if we could nurture a strong team before the 2018 tournament. The Amuneke team succeeded majorly as a result of the team spirit and discipline the players exhibited. The three coaches handling the male national teams – Sunday Oliseh, Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke – have demonstrated unusual skills that have seen them perform great feats. They could do more if encouraged further.
I use this opportunity to salute the Falconets for qualifying for the African championship.
Once again, I thank all those that supported the clamour for me to run for the office of FIFA Presidency. I pray God to reward you individually and corporately
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