By Emma Jemegah
The Koguna Sokoto, Alhaji Danladi Bako has denounced the statement credited to some aspirants from the north that the next president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should come from the region since the outgoing president is from the south.
Dr. Bako said merit rather than sentiment should guide the delegates in deciding who they cast their votes for.
According to him, those proposing that the presidency should be ceded to the north are poor students of history, stressing that at a time the north produced three presidents consecutively without the south protesting.
“We have eminent and distinguished people from my primary constituency, the north of Nigeria. So if me, Danladi Bako along with my elder, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, Dr. Tijani Yusuf and others from above the Niger can endorse Seyi, I appeal we all support him, “Dr Bako said.
“Only Allah knows who will win the election but we know that God in His infinite mercy will grant us a president that will carry us forward.
“My presence here has given support to Seyi. We do not want to bring politics of region and ethnicity into the elections. What goes around will come around. Once upon a time you had Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima followed by Sani Lulu followed by Maigari, one stretch of three chairmen from the north. So why didn’t the south complain at the time.
“I’m looking for the merit and the best material and I think we have one in Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi,” he submitted.