By Abraham Olatunbosun
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, has distanced himself from speculations that he had endorsed an unnamed aspirant to the presidency of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Elections into the NFF come up shortly and aspirants have started name-calling and influence-peddling to bolster their chances.
It will recalled that: “Some obscure news blogs reported few days ago, a story to the effect that the Sultan of Sokoto had given his support to one of the aspirants running for elections to become the next President of the Nigerian Football Federation.
“Indeed the candidate had boasted of having been endorsed by the Sultan of Sokoto and 3 State Governors.
However, inside sources at the Palace of the Sultan of Sokoto responded to our investigation, saying: “As a policy, the Sultan welcomes all Nigerians and foreigners alike and indeed all men and women of goodwill who come to pay homage and seek his blessings but does not endorse candidates involved in a political contest for office be it football or social circles.”
A respected traditional title holder of the Caliphate, Kogina Sokoto, HRH (Dr.) Nasir Danladi Bako, also added his voice to clear the Sultan by referencing President Buhari, saying: “when he received Ashiwaju Tinubu, Gov Umahi, Gov Ayade who all went to seek his blessings.
“Eventually the presidential primaries decided the matter.
“Likewise, the Sultan being a father to all would receive all people seeking his blessings but not endorse one over the other.”
When asked further why this is so, the traditional title holder responded that: “Some people have cases with ICPC and EFCC yet they come to seek endorsement.
The Koguna Sokoto emphatically added that: ‘The Sultan does not get involved in elections of any sort, be it political, social or traditional office contestation, neither does he have preferred nor favoured candidate. People do a lot of name – dropping to mislead the public”.
As the NFF Presidential elections draws closer, desperation is setting in for some contestants.
It is hoped that, as directed by the Federal Government the NFF Congress will have the final say not any supposed godfather outside the sporting family.
