Leadership (Abuja)
23 April 2008
Abuja — The chairman of the Nigeria Football League (NFL), chief Oyuki Jackson Obaseki has applauded the chairman Nigeria Football Association, Chief Sani Lulu Abdullahi for the manner he has run the affair of the Nigeria Football in the last two years.
Obaseki, who made the commendation in Idah, Kogi State at the weekend, during the grand celebration of the 50th birthday anniversary and chieftaincy coronation as Omachi Atta of Igala, confered on the NFA chairman, described Sani Lulu as a gentle and near perfect man. "I wouldn't say Lulu as a human being is a perfect man, but a complete gentle and near perfect man. So far, he has done his best by keeping the board together inspite of all odds.
"I am vice chairman of NFA, although they referred to me as second vice chairman, even though the status didn't say so. I can tell from the bottom of my heart that this is the best NFA board so far, that is ready to give everything and accept the responsibility when it fails.
"Lulu is not a coach, but when we lost in Ghana, he apologized to Nigerians, despite that the blame was not on him. He gave the team all they need to succeed in Ghana, but they refused to perform.
The players were responsible for our failure in Ghana and not Berti Vogts because they were not committed," he noted.
Obaseki, who is also the NFA second vice chairman, however observed that some unscruplous elements in the board of the Nigeria Football Association do not allow Nigerians to see the good works of Chief Sani Lulu as the NFA chairman. "I am sorry to say this, some unscruplous elements in NFA do not allow Nigerians to see the good work of Sani Lulu, and that is my problem with him. Because he is a civil servant, whenever you tell him to do something, he will turn round and look around before taking a decision," he explained.
He charged the Kogi born chief to remain focused and committed to the development of football in the country and appealed to Nigerians to support the Lulu-led board of the Nigeria Football Association to enable them change the fortune of Nigeria's football.
"My advise to Lulu is to remain committed and focus. People must talk but he shouldn't listen to them. And I want to tell Nigerians that nobody will come from some where else to develop our football for us. So, we must use what we have and support the board succeed," he advised.
Meanwhile, the NFL chairman has also assured Nigerians of his board's desire to take Nigerian league to greater heights. According to him, in their bid to give Nigerians a vibrant league that they can be proud of, they have since started preparations for the next football season, scheduled to begin in August.
He said many TV stations have started indicating their interests to beam the league live. "The good thing is that more TV stations are willing to come into partnership with us and if that is the only thing, I will be able to achieve as NFL chairman, then I will be proud," he declared.
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