NFF crisis: Minister urges Pinnick, Giwa factions to embrace peace

By Albert Akota

Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tamunono Danagogo has urged Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa-led factions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to embrace peace ahead of today’s court sitting in Jos for the interest of Nigerians. The minister who stated this yesterday at the Abuja national stadium when he received Super Falcons and the technical crew from Lagos, said he would do everything possible of finding a common ground that would see Nigeria escape the looming FIFA ban. Danagogo made it clear that for peace to reign, it will have to be a case of give and take even as he remains optimistic that Nigeria will not be banned by FIFA “I want both fractions to embrace give and take for interest of the game, I want them to seen Super Falcons victory as a point of reconciliation, “he said. The minister also said he will not foreclose inviting “Elder statesmen” in Nigerian football to help appeal to parties to give peace a chance as there is more to lose than gain if the world football governing ends up suspending Nigeria. The NFF crisis took a new twist last Thursday when a court in Jos sacked the elected electives that emerged from the September 30 elective congress held in Warri, Delta State. The Court instead ruled that Chris Giwa, who emerged from another supposed elections on August 26, should return to office to administer the Federation. Mr. Giwa was at the Glass House secretariat of the NFF on Monday but he was not allowed access into the office. According to the minister, President Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday receive and honour the victorious Super Falcons, who won the 2014 African Women Championship for the seventh time in Namibia.