Sports Stakeholders Spit Fire Over Dikko’s Appointment, Says Appointment ‘Nothing Short Of A Complete Disaster’

…Urge Tinubu to reconsider appointment to save Nigerian sports

Some Sports stakeholders under the auspices of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, have taken a swipe at Shehu Dikko, a former chairman of League Management Committee (LMC) in charge of the Nigerian professional Football League over his appointment as chairman of the national sports commission.

The stakeholders fired the salvo at Dikko in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, on Thursday, by Prince Harrison Jalla, Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria’s Board of Trustees.

President Bola Tinubu, had on Wednesday announced Dikko’s appointment after scrapping the ministry of sports development and transferring the sports ministry’s functions to the NSC.

Jalla, while commending President Tinubu’s efforts to revitalize Nigeria’s sports sector, expressed concerns about Dikko’s past performance, hinging their vexation on the flaws and anomalies that marred his tenure as League Management Committee Chairman.

Jalla questioned the basis of Dikko’s appointment, whom he said allegedly have poor track record, including allegations of “corruption, criminal diversion, misappropriation and theft” hanging on his neck.

He said that Dikko was reportedly removed as LMC chairman in 2022 after 11 years, and the Nigeria Professional Football League had to be rescued by the federal government.

Jalla, said that Dikko’s tenure at the LMC brought the Nigerian league to “disrepute and low ebb with so many flaws and anomalies”.

According to Jalla, sports in general is heading for another disaster with the appointment of “such a person”.

The statement reads; “I want to say that Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is not a sportsman, and the President has never claimed to be one.

“However, after barely a year in office, President Tinubu stands out in Nigeria’s sports history as the President who has taken the most pragmatic steps in terms of financial investment in the sector.

“Despite these efforts, the President may not succeed in achieving a vibrant sports sector because his appointments in the sports sector thus far have been ill-advised and politically motivated.

“The former Minister of Sports, John Enoh, was a huge mistake, while the appointment of Shehu Dikko is nothing short of a complete disaster.

“On what basis was Dikko appointed? Certainly not on merit. Dikko’s track record as Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) is in the public domain for all to see. Under his leadership, the flagship of Nigerian domestic football, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), died.

“In 2022, after 11 years as LMC chairman, Dikko was removed from office, and the NPFL had been reduced to ground zero.

“The federal government had to step in to rescue the NPFL”

Prince Jalla, therefore urged the President to reconsider the appointment to avoid the sports crashing further into disaster.

“Mr. President, with due respect, must reconsider this appointment for the following reasons: There are serious and proven allegations of corruption, criminal diversion, misappropriation, and theft hanging over Dikko.

“The return of Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission through intense lobbying of the presidency is an attempt by a notorious football gang to capture Nigerian sports through the back door. This will be fiercely resisted by stakeholders”, he said.

He said that a formal and official presentation from stakeholders outlining why Dikko’s appointment is an aberration and cannot stand would soon be dispatched to the presidency.

“It is now crystal clear that Nigeria’s retired sportsmen and women have no future in sports administration”, the statement laments.

Dikko has not responded to the claims as at press time but Amaju Pinnick, a former NFF president, in a statement on Thursday evening hailed Dikko’s appointment while expressing confidence in his ability to “turn around our sports for the better”.

“Shehu Dikko personified productivity and creativity, and every good thing we accomplished in those years had his hand in it,” Pinnick said in a statement.

“He is tireless and selfless, and has acquired immense knowledge and experience in the sports industry over the past 30 years.

“I have no doubt that he’s the man to turn around our sports for the better and guarantee our athletes podium performance at the next Olympics in Los Angeles.

“Dikko is highly under-rated but I see him picking the best brains in the land to work with him and set a template for the kind of sports industry that we have always wanted – one that will ultimately benefit all stakeholders and start to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.”