My name is Adewale Ajayi calling from a quiet city, north of the Atlantic in Canada.

Hope you remember me? I am your friend of many years, one journalist you have used for a thousand hatchet jobs and the young man at the forefront of your third term campaign.

I hope you still remember me? If you don’t, let me remind you further. We had a sustained misunderstanding that lasted for more than two years and just last year, we agreed to work together for the good of the game.

However, after that unfortunate defeat to Ghana that halted our world cup dream, I called you and advised that we jettison the third term ambition, focus on developing the game at all levels and work towards anointing a responsible and acceptable successor.

It didn’t end there, you went on National television to officially tell the world that you are no longer pursuing a third term dream, rather you will want to end your second term on a high.

That being the case, I am surprised, confused and disturbed by comments from your friends and close associates that you are still scheming to return. As much as i don’t want to believe what I am hearing, your body language is not proving otherwise and events of the last few days have shown that there is more to this, than meets the eyes.

Like in the past, a few journalists, loyal to your third term cause, thesame men who have joined me to attack and insult previous sports ministers are again at the forefront of this fresh media madness. We have been on this route before, we have exchanged notes, mapped out strategies and worked out modus of operation. And together, we have celebrated victory.

Against Tamuno Danagogo and his cohorts, we came out fighting like wounded lions, we wrestled against principalities and powers in high places, we tore them to pieces and offered their bodies to the dogs. They left brutally shattered after years of torment and ridicule.

Against Solomon Dalung, the strategy changed. We employed more soldiers of war, we littered social media with unpalatable writeups and fought him with pants down until the very end.

At that time, we worked with some of the most intelligent football administrators who understood the game and were united in the struggle. Among them was a certain Musa Amadu, who as General Secretary of the NFF then, refused to bulge even with a gun to his head. Musa fought gallantly to repel the invaders. He was bundled from one DSS office to the other, he refused to accept bribe running into millions of dollars from the opposition but at the end, he was sacrificed and evicted from the glasshouse for disobeying orders from above. Let me stop here, as that is a story for another day.

Like Musa, Christopher Green, Tunde Aderibigbe and a few others loyal to the cause, have all been ridiculed, rejected or rendered redundant either by fate or by coincidence.

As much as many held on to their grievances, the congress was united. The reason behind the unity at that time is because, for once, everyone saw the need to fight the enemy. The enemy then was the opposition group who refused to let go a mandate they claimed was given to them by some unidentified FA chairmen at the August 26, 2014 Election in Chida.

The congress never wanted to create any loophole for these invaders to take over power and that was the only reason why you returned as NFF president on September 30, 2018 for a record second term in office.

Let me also remind you sir, that Aminu Maigari, the former NFF president whom you defeated in Katsina, was on the threshold of making a triumphant return until he infamously appeared in a Jos Federal high Court to stand in as witness in a case involving the percieved enemies of Nigeria football and the NFF led by you.

That singular decision all but quashed the dream, as Aminu never recovered from the backlash from kinsmen who felt betrayed by his action.

That was when we had a united congress and a united board. Can you remember that in 2014, even when the sport ministry under Tamuno Danagogo made it known to the board that the federal government has anointed a new person as NFF president and wanted Aminu Maigari impeached, the board struggled to get it done because in the midst of the crisis and the confusions, members were united. Although a few later manufactured some fake signatures to get Maigari impeached, FIFA in their wisdom immediately reinstated the Bauchi state born football administrator, insisting that the process leading to his impeachment was faulty and unconstitutional.

Fast forward to 2022 and take a second look at the presidential order as read out by Nigeria sports minister, Sunday Dare. You will notice that at the tail end of that release, he ended my saying, that all decisions taken must be done in accordance with the NFF status. It shows that he didn’t just wake up to orchestrate or manufacture that press release. It was well planned, carefully rehearsed and professionally done.

The present sport minister is not one man who takes rash decisions. He is well grounded in international sports politics and is surrounded by men who understand the game deeply.

In putting forward a team to draw up the football master plan, Dare took time to test the waters, he made wide consultations and selected some of the best brains in the sector. He understands the implication of making mistakes especially in football matters and has done no wrong in insisting that the NFF president set in motion modalities on how to set aside the court order restraining the congress of the NFF from calling an annual General assembly that will immediately fix a date for an elective congress in September or any other date as agreed by congress.

If it was before, in the days of old, when the congress was still very united, when members of the executive committee were on thesame page, many would have joined this sponsored attack on the minister.

Unfortunately, the case this time is different. Totally different.

As at the last count, the opposition has infiltrated the board and three board members have pledged their loyalty to the Aminu Kurfi led group.

Aminu Kurfi is no small name in Nigeria football. He singlehandedly fought the invaders and insisted that the NFF Election of 2018 in Katsina must go ahead even when there was a late court order stopping the process.

He is a very powerful APC politician from the state of Mr President and has very close ties with the Emir of Daura, thesame man that the NFF assured that they will bring a FIFA goal project to his domain as a way to say thank you after two lavish pre and post Election parties. That promise has not been fulfilled till date.

The fact that Balele, a man whose love and loyalty to Amaju was never in doubt has today turned around to form an alliance with over 20 other FA chairmen paints a picture of what is ahead.

The deadline given by the opposition FA chairmen to the NFF president to call for an annual General assembly expired on Tuesday July 12 and with. It comes fresh expectations as a thick cloud continue to hover around Nigeria football.

Methinks, that the best strategy for you Mr Amaju my dear friend is not to make more enemies. This is a time to seek audience with the homourable sports minister and outline your plans. If you must know, Dare has no candidate and has no political game plan. He is only playing the fatherly role, trying to guide and guard the board on how to do things, not what to do.

For those claiming that his press release comes with a pinch of interference, they know absolutely nothing. As much as he ended by advising that everything must be done in conformity with the NFF status, he has shown that he respects the status and understands the plot perfectly.

What I think Mr Amaju should bother his head about for now is how to identify the real enemies and mend fences with them. Dare is the least of your problems. The bigger problem is ahead.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed

Thanks for reading, have a blessed day.

Sporting Regards

From your friend
Adewale Ajayi

S- Sincerity Sincerity is his watchword… Ever since his appointment as Nigeria minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare has played his card with high level of sincerity. He makes promises and fulfil them. He tries as much as he can to carry every one along but he is not afraid to hurt a friend if that friendship will stop him from doing what is right. At the very beginning, many thought he was a friend to one of the parties before and after the NBBF elections but Dare stood his ground when it truly matters and took a decision that was in the best interest of the sport.

U- Unity– He preaches one Nigeria and believes in the saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Ever since his coming as Nigeria minister of youth and sports, Dare has united the sporting family. The crisis in football has disappeared. Board members still have their grievances but they have worked together in the best interest of the game.

Today, the Athletics federation if Nigeria AFN, has become more united under the able leadership of governor Okowa, a man who got the nod of board members, to bring a new lease of life to the sport.

Key players of the Nigeria male and female basketball teams are united in their support for the minister despite the recent ban from international competitions initiated by the federal government.

N- Neutral– Dare has maintained a neutral position in policy and decision making. He is a man who doesn’t take sides. No wonder, stakeholders have found it difficult to pin him down with allegations since assumption of office.

D- Dedicated– He is dedicated and diligent, dogged and determined. He came into office with a promise to change narratives and has achieved so much in just over three years. The renovation of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja was the highpoint of an administration that has seen so much outstanding achievements.
A stadium that was abandoned for well over 16years by the People’s democratic Party (PDP Leadership) was renovated by the APC and given to the opposition free of charge to conduct their national primaries on Saturday.

Only Sunday Dare can do that. He takes nothing to heart and holds no grudges in the line of duty.

A- Accountability– Dare gives account of his stewardship in whatever capacity he finds himself. Just like APC Presidential aspirant Bola Tinubu said in a video that has gone viral, Dare is a man who doesn’t take what doesn’t belong to him. He is contented with his little and will not take a dime from public purse even if he doesn’t have a dime on him. That tells the story of man who gives to ceazer what is ceazer. No wonder, at all time, he has come out clean in all his financial dealings with individuals and groups.

Y- Youth friendly— Other ministers call him the father of Nigeria youths. His passion for youth liberation, emancipation and freedom is second to none. The.National youth investment programme NYI, which was conceptualized by president Mohammadu Buhari has continued to cater for millions of Nigeria youths, including sports journalists below 35years of age who have laudable ideas that needs government’s support.

Nigeria youth Corpers are perhaps, one of the biggest beneficiaries od Sunday Dare’s youth liberation. The NYSC Monthly stipends received a massive upgrade under the Sunday Dare administration and he has extended same love to other youth sectors as he desperately intends to make this world a better place for Nigeria youths.

D- Delivers He has delivered on all his promises. He promised to revive key dilapidated sporting structures in Nigeria and has gone about his work with.due diligence.

The Moshood Abiola National stadium in Abuja was a priority that has since been completed. The National stadium in Lagos is another priority that has received massive face-lift. The Daura sports complex is a promise made and accomplished while the increment in monthly allowances of youth Corpers is another pointer to the fact that when Dare makes promises, he delivers.

A- Amiable– He is loved, he is friendly and easily accessible. The Oyo state born administrator has no enemies. He goes about his job, trying not to please or offend anyone but determined to achieve the desired goal. In less than four years in office, he has built an enviable reputation for himself and looks destined for the very top.

R- Results Dare is not a friend of failure. He detests failure with a passion and under his administration, sports has thrived massively. Apart from the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the World Cup, Nigeria has made great impact in other sports.

Team Nigeria beat the achievements of the last sixteen years by winning a silver and bronze medal at the last Olympic games. The Paralympic team also made history with their exploits at the last Paralympic games in Tokyo Japan, while Nigeria athletes did not also disappoint at the World Athletics championship in Kenya. In Basketball, the male and female teams have continued to dominate. Same goes for wrestling and scrabble where the country’s representatives performed excellently at continental and world championship.

E- Enduring– his legacies will endure forever. He has succeeded where others failed. He has taken time to touch many lives in just a short time. Even those who don’t like his face are forced to accept the fact that Nigeria sports under the leadership of Sunday Dare has enjoyed a new lease of life and can only hope for greater things to come between now and when he eventually drops the baton in 2023.

On this auspicious occasion if his 56th birthday, the sporting media and indeed all genuine stakeholders, are united in wishing this hero of our time, a happy and prosperous birthday.

Signed
Adewale Ajayi
For Friends of Dare

Leading the charge for the wishes on Tuesday was one of the group’s admin, Mr Akin Bolarinwa, who posted glowingly of the former flying eagles media officer and said, “Wishing a very happy birthday to a very wonderful boss. I’m grateful to work with a boss who treats me with love and respect. It is my hope that you continue to spread your wings and fly. May your heart know happiness today and on all the days of your life. May your enemies not rejoice over you, keep rising. Happy birthday Adewale Omotayo Ajayi. I celebrate you”.

The CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Hon. Bukola Olopade also joined in wishing the one nicknamed SAJ, Senior Advocate Of Journalist well, “Happy birthday to Wale Ajayi. A good man often times misunderstood. I join all in celebrating you today. Aseyi se Amodun”.

36 Lion Owner, Hajj Gafar was also not left out,: “A king must be accorded in his kingdom so I say wonderful birthday wish to you Wale, the great son of Ajayi. Many happy returns of the day SAJ.
May the showers of peace and love continue to drizzle on your rooftop”, he said.

“All the best to you and all the best to your entire family. The love between and within you and your wife shall continue to increase. Your children shall be among the best leaders of their generations.

“May your new age be filled with extraordinary fruitfulness. Your establishment in Canada shall be extended to Nigeria for a unique legacy. Long life and prosperity my honorable brother”, he concluded.

Other members which constitute of leading sport journalists, administrators and athletes also took their turns to celebrate the one who they regard as a man with good heart.

Adewale Ajayi, is the global media consultant and brand ambassador of 36 Lion Football Club.

The former staff of Africa independent television AIT served as Media Officer of the Under-20 National team of Nigeria and was also at one point, the media consultant to the Nigeria hockey federation before relocating with his family to Canada for greener pastures.

His pet project, the award winning, NSM is gradually becoming the voice of sports journalists in Nigeria as he has managed to get the best brains in sports journalism together on one platform to help project Nigeria sports in good light.