The group stated that due to the "atrocities committed by the current (NFF) board," the election should be “stopped till such a time when all reforms are carried out.”
A group parading itself as Nigeria Football Stakeholders has threatened to bomb the Nigeria Football Federation election venue on September 30 in Benin City if the planned election is not cancelled, PUNCH has learnt.
This was contained in a letter written by Dogogo Johnbull, dated August 7, 2022, and submitted to sports minister Sunday Dare and NFF president Amaju Pinnick.
The group stated that due to the "atrocities committed by the current (NFF) board," the election should be “stopped till such a time when all reforms are carried out.”
The group further threatened that "blood will flow" if their demand was not met.
The letter reads, “We write to ask for the cancellation of the NFF election holding in Benin Edo State on the 30th of September 2022. This is so because of the atrocities committed by the present board.
“Embezzlement and fraud committed by the Amaju Pinnick-led board with various cases pending in EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission). Refusal to various players unions and so many stakeholders in the intended election. Blatant refusal to adjust the statutes to accommodate all intending stakeholders to come to the board.
“In view of the above, we ask that the election be stopped till such a time when all reforms are carried out.”
The stakeholders added in the statement, “Refusal to adhere to our warning will be met with very serious consequences. We will not hesitate to bomb and bring down the venue of the election and blood will flow.
“Your agreement to the cancellation will save the lives that are supposed to be lost.”
One of the contestants in the upcoming NFF election, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, bemoaned the ministry's failure to act despite the group's warning.
He said, “This is terrorism just because of a football election. And the ministry, a government agency, acknowledges and accepts such a letter without calling the agencies that should nip this threat in the bud.
“The letter has a name, an address and a telephone number and they warned that blood will flow in another state, that they will bomb the election venue and you acknowledge that kind of letter without taking action?
“My anger is not even towards those who wrote the letter but the government agency who received the letter and has done nothing.”
However, media aide to the sports minister, Toyin Ibitoye, said, the ministry would forward the letter to the appropriate quarters, meaning security agencies for investigation.
“That (ministry) stamp (on the letter) is for the registry of the Minister’s Office, all letters go there but those who send such letters may remain unknown.
“I am sure the relevant security agencies will know how to respond to it.”
NFF president Pinnick however declined to comment on the issue.
“I can’t comment on this right now,” he said.
Meanwhile, a former president of the football body, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, said in July that any attempt to postpone the elections beyond September would be tantamount to corruption.
The former NFF boss lauded the Nigerian government’s intervention, urging the leadership of the NFF to amend its statute to reflect the national yearnings, aspirations and peculiarities of Nigeria as a sovereign nation whilst aligning with the principles and objectives of football as set by the world soccer governing body, FIFA.