By Femi Atolagbe
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The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday reinstated Mr Dele Ologbese as the vice Chairman of Ondo State chapter of the association.
This was part of the resolutions reached after a stakeholders meeting organised by the NFF to resolve the differences in the Ondo FA in Akure, the state Capital .
While speaking to the newsmen after the stakeholders meeting, the first NFF vice president Mr Seyi Akinwumi, said that as the Coordinator of football in the South-West, NFF statutes must be followed.
Akinwumi said, nobody can replace any elected member, “no elected member could not be brought into the board to act”, he reiterated.
Asked about the returned of Ologbese to the Board ! He said in the eyes of the law, he was never removed , that is why I took my time to explained what is in the status for them .
He described all the allegations levelled against Ologbese as baseless and needless, adding that they were not in any way for the FA to act on.
He said he was not on either side of the factions but had come with the Chairman of Chairmen, Mr Ibrahim Musa Gusau to move football forward in the state.
“The situation here is a no victor no vanquish”
The Dele Ajayi-led board had suspended Dele Ologbese and four other board members for different reasons in 2016.
The other suspended members are Zion Ogunfeyimi, Felix Ademulegun, Dotun Omoogun and Ajayi Ogidi and had all being returned by the NFF leadership.
The tussle between Ajayi and Ologbese was over the chairmanship of the association in the state.
Ajayi, had supported the Chris Giwa-led faction of the NFF, while Ologbese, who was elected the Vice-Chairman of the board but suspended by the Ajayi-led board, was recognised by the Amaju Pinick-led NFF.
“Thank you for coming for this resolution of issues, we are one football family, crisis will affect children, young footballers and young referees, coaches and all businesses around football will suffer.
“It is in our collective interest that we sort this matter out, you should at least sheath your swords for Ondo State football to move forward. As a coordinator of southwest football, I am not on the side of anybody, but on the side of football,” Akinwumi said.
Contributing, Chairman of Chairmen, Mr Ibrahim Musa Gusau ordered the FA in the state to as a matter of urgency conduct elections at the local government level of the association, before the state’s election.
Gusau noted that elections must be conducted into the board of the state’s FA before Feb. 28, saying, “no one will stay extra one-day in a position if elections were not conducted.”
We are not coming here to do anything for you during your elections, we will only come to observe your elections”, he said.
Ologbese during an interview with newsmen after the meeting, expressed his satisfaction, saying he was happy that the NFF’s leadership came to the state to resolve the perceived difference in the FA.
“I am very happy about this development, we are back as one indivisible family.
“I want to say that football is going to grow and develop in this state now.
“There is no way progress can be recorded in an atmosphere of crisis,” he said.
A board member ,Mr Fadoju Moses Ajayi said he is happy with the intervention of the NFF, which finally put an end to the lingering crisis in tg Ondo FA .
Present at the stakeholders meeting were; Ogun state FA Chairman and NFF Board member Mr Majekodunmi Ganiyu, ODSFA Chairman , Otunba Tajudeen Akinyemi, former Ondo FA Chairman Mr Dele Ogungbemi, Mr Daodu Alex, Ondo FA Secretary and others .
