The vastly approaching election into the board of Lagos State Football Association is taking new turn by the day as evil schemes of usurpers to truncate due process and transparency becomes glaring. The two profiteers who have plunged football administration and development into abyss in Lagos particularly in the last twelve years are desperate more than ever to manipulate rules and regulations in order to disqualify, intimidate other candidates and foist their candidature on the screening committee in a brazen manner which has never been witnessed in the state before now.
Fouad Oki and Liameed Olawale Gafaar are two aspirants whose candidacy has become a nightmare for the outgoing chairman on the grounds that they pose a serious threat to his anointed candidates Tade Azeez and Dotun Coker.
Yesterday, the electoral committee at the screening process threw decorum to the gutter and showed the world whose bidding they were doing.
Firstly, the committees which were setup by the outgoing chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi, who had earlier announced his resignation and abstinence from the election, brought in three lawyers against the norm of one lawyer as stipulated by the electoral law in a sinister move to manipulate the process. The lawyers’ missions are well design and cut out; to disqualify the duo of Fouad and Gafaar from participating in the election and to pave ways for Tade and Dotun Coker who are key players in the destruction of football, to continue the impunity. Tade has been in Lagos FA board since the days of Taiwo Affinnih, same as Dotun who was initially co-opted then, eventually elected 12 years ago.
The covert attempt to bypass due process and unjustly disqualify Fouad Oki and Liameed from exercising their rights through bias means to what end? Is there something the Seyi Akinwunmi led board trying to hide?
Why bring in three lawyers instead of one as stipulated by the electoral law? Why was the screening committee and electoral committee hell bent to disqualify these candidates without any substantial evidence to back up ominous moves? When the disqualification move hit the brick walls the committee adopted another illogical tactic, vehemently refusing to sign the clearance form of Fouad and Gafaar. And now telling the lawyers to resign as electoral committee members, so that the election will not hold.
This grubby move and ploy by these men on destructive motion seem well orchestrated as they are bold enough to boast by saying “If Sanwoolu is standing in this Lagos FA election, he will be beaten”. Whatever force that may be emboldening Tade and co-travelers to make such spurious boasting against the Governor of Lagos underline how belligerent they are.
Fuoad Oki and Liameed Gafeer are not the type that can be bullied or frightened by mere barking of a toothless dog. The duo stood their ground and ensured the right thing was done as the committee reluctantly resigned to fate and confirmed the participation of Oki Fouad Ade for the chairmanship position and Liameed Gafar was also cleared to contest for the Vice Chairmanship position in Wednesday’s Election.
Time will definitely tell.
