FIFA Presidency: IBB endorses Kalu

FROM AKIN ALOFETEKUN, MINNA

FORMER military president, General Ibra­him Badamasi Babangi­da has thrown his weight behind the moves by some Nigerians to drag former Abia State gov­ernor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu into the race for the presidency of FIFA.

In an interview with journalists in Minna on the occasion of his 74th birthday, Babangida extolled the pedigree of Kalu, saying: “I will vote for him. I wish him a very good outing.

“In talking about his interest in sports, espe­cially football, the Eny­imba Football Club, you can still recall that he virtually brought them up and it was very in­teresting and if that is recognized outside this country, I think there is nothing wrong in trying his hands to be recog­nized in the world. That is why I said if I have a vote, I will cast my vote for him.”

It would be re­called that the duo of Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Ex­ecutive members, Alhaji Yusuf Fresh and Alhaji Ahmed Mu’azu Kawu had earlier endorsed the candidature of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu for the FIFA presidency .

According to Fresh, a member of the NFF technical committee, Dr Kalu has every right to aspire to the topmost position in world foot­ball with his achieve­ment with Enyimba In­ternational of Aba while he held sway as the Abia State governor.

“I am enthusiastic and happy that Nigerians are starting to show inter­est in the top football position in the world. His Excellency, Dr Orji Kalu has the right to contest for the FIFA job but he must get the endorsement of the Ni­geria Football Federa­tion (NFF). “He cannot aspire to contest with­out the backing of the NFF and if he seek our support, we shall surely give him,” Alhaji Fresh said, adding “He has countless of achieve­ments to show from his performance as two-time Governor of Abia State. He made Enyimba what they are today be­cause it was through his effort that Nigeria broke the CAF Champions League jinx. He won the competition twice as well as the CAF Super Cup.”

For the NNWL chairman, Alhaji Kawu, the aspiration of Dr Kalu is not ab­normal but advised he go through the proper channel to actualize the dream.

“I like the dogged­ness of Dr Orji Kalu in aspiring to be the FIFA president. Of course, he’s qualified and has the record to back it up. But he has to go through the proper channel, that is seek­ing the clearance of the Nigeria Football Federation,” he said.