Publisher Condemns Keshi's Sack, Seeks NFF's Probe

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, July 05, (THEWILL) –  The Publisher of Newsday Newspaper, an Abuja based publication, Chief Edet Isong, has slammed the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board , accusing the body of covering up so many shady deals since it came on board. Isong, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said the sacking of Coach Stephen Keshi was unnecessary and a distraction while urging President Muhammadu Buhari to beam his tough stance on stamping out corruption at the NFF to unveil reasons why some shady deals are being covered up.

He said NFF should explain the real reasons why former Secretary General of the body, Barrister Musa Amadu, was forced to resign and what has happened to the proceeds of the share given to Nigeria after the World Cup in Brazil 2014.

He said the NFF board should tell Nigerians why the amount given to Nigeria has been shrouded in secrecy till date and how has it been spent, particularly in developing football at the grassroots in the country. Isong also queried the secrecy surrounding the actual figures of the NFF kitting contract which the Amaju Pinnick board ended with Adidas and why Nigerians have not been informed till date on whatever revenue accrued with the Addidas contract and the new contract signed with Nike to kit the national teams.

He alleged that the NFF stinks with corruption, saying it is worse than the underhand dealings that have played out in the NNPC in several decades.

He therefore urged President Buhari to urgently take a closer look at what he alleged as the unholy dealings at the Glass House. He further took a swipe at the NFF for failing to make public the outcome of the fire incident which razed the accounts department of the body and wondered why the matter may have been swept under the carpet and what financial records may have been burnt.

Isong said the query given to former Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, was another sad tale that exposed the incompetence of the Amaju Pinnick led board as he is not a civil servant but a professional footballer .

Isong said in a system where professionalism should be the watchword , it was simply laughable for the NFF to set a panel to listen to a query, describing it as a plot to witchhunt the centenarian captain to achieve the selfish desires of the NFF board members.