The President of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, and a contestant in the election for the presidency of the NFF chairman that saw Pinnick assume office, Chris Giwa, got physical during a meeting called by Sports Minister Solomon Dalung in Abuja yesterday Jan. 20th.
Chris Giwa who had claimed he was the rightfully elected president of the NFF following the August 26, 2014 election, announced plans to resume office on January 12, 2016 to reclaim his mandate and chase out the Amaju Pinnick-led executive that has been in office since 2014. But in a bid to have peace and ring long lasting solution to the feud between both parties, Sports Minister Solomon Dalung yesterday presided over a meeting between Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick, where both men turned a gentleman’s discussion to a rancorous affair; as an argument ensued, over who had eligible claim to the NFF Presidency hotseat. It gets more interesting…
The NFF President Pinnick and Chris Giwa almost came to blows at the meeting that was meant to unite them after they fell out.
Many stakeholders in Nigerian sports felt the meeting called by the Minister was not necessary as it will only reopen old wounds. It is said that Giwa is a long time friend of Dalung back home from Plateau State.
The meeting ended in a deadlock. Dalung while speaking to newsmen, said he had heard from both sides and another meeting will be convened next week Wednesday.
Journalist Nneka Ikem, media assistant to the minister, live-tweeted the meeting’s exchanges. See tweets below…