NFF Election: The whispers getting louder as gladiators send out dangerous messages- Wale Ajayi

NFF Election: The whispers getting louder as gladiators send out dangerous messages- Wale Ajayi

Few days after the Africa Cup of Nations ended in Rabat, Morocco, the battlefield has moved to Nigeria where the football is no longer the topic but the politics.

From north to south, east to west, the gladiators have started whispering, phone calls drag into midnight as discussions centered on who stays and who goes in the fast approaching NFF Elections.

From Minna to Jalingo, Sokoto to Kano, Kogi to Jos, Kaduna to Makurdi, stretching down to the South South and South West, the midnight crawlings have began. Men stay awake all night, trying to make new friends by selling their manifestoes and expecting a favourable reply.

The biggest spenders are in the Southwest. Monies are transfered daily across board to the accounts of some desperate Northern delegates who have now made themselves a burden for all aspiring candidates

For the position of NFF president, a former NFF Vice president is not giving up the fight, he is one of the biggest spenders and has worked so hard to catch few attentions. He is well connected in the present All Progressive Congress (APC) government, his relationship with the Chief of Staff to the president of the federal republic, Femi Gbajabiamila is very well documented and the fact that he was and is still a card carrying APC member speaks volume.

The calculations before now was to infiltrate the congress with cash and kind and make them understand the position of government or should I say the direction of government. All that is still ongoing.

A few FA chairmen have been contacted in the recent days and discussions are ongoing but the truth is, they have found a brick wall in the present leadership of the National Sports Commission led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and his director General, Bukola Olopade.

Both men are not willing to fall for fresh directives. They are not new to the terrain. Dikko in particular, was a victim of this game and he understands it better than anyone having contested and lost three times under very funny conditions.

To the NSC, there is no need destroying the ship in the middle of the sea. They are gradually enjoying a smooth working relationship with the incumbent, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the relationship has just catapulted Nigeria into the top three best football playing nations on the continent after the Super Eagles brilliance that ended in bronze at the just concluded AFCON.

Added to this, is the patient wait for a face saving FIFA verdict that could return Nigeria to the World Cup playoffs. Information from Zurich are pointing to a favourable outcome and the NSC in their wisdom are looking forward to work with Gusau to make this World Cup dream a reality.

The good news is that former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick has saved them some trouble by coming out to say he is not interested in making a return to the glasshouse, that in all sincerity, has given the NSC a clear direction as to what to do or who to support.

Whether we like it or not, both men are friends to Amaju and would have found it very difficult not to support a friend in need if he desperately wanted to return but as it stands, he is not interested and will join the NSC in endorsing Gusau for a second term.

As it stands, Ibrahim Gusau is still the chosen one, but he may need to make a big sacrifice to keep his seat. That's is where the general secretary, Mohammed Sanusi comes in.

He seem the most likely sacrificial lamb available to appease the gods. If the AFC Government truly want to negotiate, then the only seat available to please the gods is that of the general secretary. The question now is, will the former NFF Vice president accept the position of general secretary or is he someone the incumbent will be comfortable to work with?

Standing on the wings are two other young insiders from the South West. Both are secretarial staff in the present NFF, they have not hidden their intention to take over from their principal and have taken their campaigns farther than anyone could imagine. It is nothing hidden so they cannot be be pushed aside in the scheme of things.

For the position of board members, that is where the real intrigues lies. The South West will most certainly produce two new board members. The truth is, there is a young man in the south that is spending so much and is daily winning souls. If the elections should hold tonight, he will stroll unhindered into the board. However, this game is more than cash, it is deeper than anyone can imagine.

Infact, the real drama takes place on ths floor and on such days, you never can tell where the pendulum will shift.

It is looking more likely that the South East will lose on all front. If care is not taken, the South East may have to do with just a league board chairmanship position as it is obvious from all indication that their present representative in the board is not pulling his weight as expected and might be pushed aside.

The truth is, the South West in their negotiation might go for the position of General secretary and Vice President as a condition to leave the post of president and chairman of chairmen to the Notth.

What that means is that the South East could get a league board chairmanship seat and the position of chairman technical as available compensation.

The deal is not all sealed. We may, for the first time in the history of Nigeria football get a first female vice president if my sources are right and what that means, is that, one more opening has been blocked for intending aspirants.

Looking ahead, except something very sinister happens, Gusau is looking good for a second term but in this game, every passing day comes with fresh calculations and permutations. For now, all I can say, is that Gusau is still the chosen one.