21st August, 2014
Photo: Ayorinde Oluokun
The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, on Wednesday described the fire that gutted a section of the football secretariat in Abuja as unfortunate.
Maigari who returned to office on Monday after he was reinstated following an impeachment three weeks ago by NFF Board members he was shocked. Maigari told journalists after inspecting the level of damage by the fire that he was astonished by the incident.
“I am short of words. It is a very unfortunate and sad development. We leave everything in the hands of God.
“We thank God that no life was lost but I know things will come back to normal. I believe the security agents will set up an investigative panel of inquiry to ascertain what actually happened.
“We will sit as a board to know what steps to be taken. This is an act of God. I don’t want to apportion blame to anybody,” Maigari said.
He also said the development would not affect the country’s preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Congo in Calabar on 6 September.
“I believe it is not going to affect our course in any way. The Falconets are willing and determined to make Nigeria proud and we are doing everything possible to ensure they succeed.
“A board member will fly to Canada tonight to inspire them and take a message of support from Nigerians to them,” he said.
The chairman called for the collaboration of the board members so as to achieve more positive result for the country’s football.
However, Mike Umeh, acting Chairman of NFF, told journalists that it was difficult to believe that an electric spark was responsible for the fire outbreak.
He said the fire was an act of sabotage, adding that the development was strange to Nigeria football.
“Nobody will believe what happened this morning. We are having this kind of fire from the Secretary-General’s office to the Accounts Department.
“This happened during the working hours. It is not as if it started at midnight and it was not controlled.
“Every file there has been destroyed and that will explain to you what we are saying that there is a lot of corruption going on in the NFF.
“That is why we distanced ourselves from the meeting that was held yesterday. We did not agree with that meeting because nobody can perpetuate himself into power.
“They seem to be buying themselves more time with what they did yesterday. We must hold our election on 26 August.
“If they like let them burn the entire Abuja city,” Umeh said in apparent reference to the face-off between him and Maigari.