The former Delta State Commissioner for Sports, Solomon Ogba has sent out a congratulatory message to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who on Friday was elected into the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football. 

Ogba described Pinnick’s victory as a very special one for all Nigerians; especially Deltans who have watched the meteoric rise of the astute sports administrator over the years.

The former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria said he is confident Pinnick will perform creditably well in his new office having done so in the past years in similar capacities.

“This is indeed a great day for Nigerian sports and I am very happy to see our country being projected in shining light in world football circles,” Ogba said on Friday, following the conclusion of the 43rd Ordinary General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco.

“I congratulate my brother, Pinnick and everyone that supported this great course,” he added

Pinnick is only the third Nigerian to serve in world football’s highest decision-making body, after the late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu.

The former Delta State Sports Commission boss attained the exalted seat spectacularly after defeating his only rival, incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 at Friday’s Congress in Morocco’s administrative capital.

 Four of Pinnick’s five rivals, Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Nick Mwendwa (Kenya) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) all pulled out before the voting commenced and opted to back the Nigerian.

Aside from his election into the FIFA council, Pinnick was also returned as CAF’s Fifth Vice President on Friday in Morocco.

Minister of Youth and sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has congratulated newly elected Executive committee member of Fifa and President of Nff Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on his success at the poll.

Amaju was elected into the exalted position of Fifa Executive committee after emerging victorious at the CAF election held in Morocco on Friday,
winning by 43 votes to his opponents 8 votes.

According to the statement from the Minister’s Media Office, this is an opportunity for Nigeria and indeed the African continent.

The Minister charged Amaju to use his position to reposition Nigerian and African football “This is an opportunity to use your new position to make Nigerian, African and World football great again and make it better than you met it. This is the reward of hardwork and unity of purpose. We are better off when we support our collective aspirations for the development of our great country. This is an honour well deserved”

The Minister had last week declared open support for Amaju , thus securing the backing of the Federal Government. The Minister was appreciative of the support of Mr. President and the efforts of the foreign Ministry.

Amaju becomes the third Nigerian after Late Mr. Orok Oyo Orok and Dr Amos Adamu to occupy the Fifa Executive committee seat.

Signed

Media office, Honorable Minister of Youth and sports Development

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was on Friday in Rabat, Morocco elected into the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football. He attained the exalted seat after defeating his only rival, incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 at the Congress held inside the Royal Ballroom of the Sofitel Hotel in Morocco’s administrative capital.

Four of Pinnick’s five rivals, Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Nick Mwendwa (Kenya) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) threw in the towel before the vote and opted to back the Nigerian. General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi casted Nigeria’s vote.

It is a remarkable case of rapid global football boardroom upliftment for a man who, a little over six-and-half years ago, had no intention of contesting for even board membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, but has now been in the post for six-and-half years (becoming the first person to democractically secure a second term), won election as Member of the CAF Executive Committee, served as CAF’s 1^st Vice President, still serving as Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, and now a reverred member of the world’s highest decision-making organ for football.

Pinnick’s entry into the 37-member FIFA Council came at the 43^rd Ordinary and Elective General Assembly of CAF, and was accomplished hours after the man he supported for the CAF Presidency, Dr Patrice Motsepe of South Africa, mounted the ‘throne’ unchallenged. Motsepe’s challengers Augustine Senghor of Senegal, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire had all withdrawn from the race before today’s poll.

The elevation is for a four-year term, and automatically makes Pinnick a Member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football.

A man who sets and pursues his vision doggedly, Pinnick thus becomes only the third Nigerian to serve in world football’s highest decision-making body, after the late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu.

The quest by the suave and effervescent football administrator for the seat was solidly backed by the Government of Nigeria, which delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Nebolisa Anako was on ground in Morocco.

A mining billionaire who is also into banking and telecommunications and has businesses in 40 African countries, Dr Patrice Thlopane Motsepe is also the owner of top South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns.

In his acceptance speech, Motsepe expressed gratitude to the African football family for his attainment of the position, saying it is a huge honour to serve African football at the highest level. “All of us can and will work together,” he said, underscoring the need for team work, collaboration and sense of togetherness as he praised Senghor, Yahya and Anouma who withdrew from the race.