BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
The cleverness with which the Shehu Dikko, Bukola Olopade led National Sports Commission (NSC) addressed imbroglios within many sport federations in the country upon assumption of office, raised hope that lasting peace may at last find its way in a balkanized, factionalized and disjointed supporters’ club in Nigeria where deepening crisis has held sway and lingered for too long.
Things fell apart and no centre existed. The once united, vibrant Supporters’ Club in Nigeria which redefined the role of the twelfth man in the modern game worldwide, drew sword amongst themselves and was fragmented or broken into six different groups.
Those that sang with one voice before, now sing in discordant tunes. Vincent Okumagba led the Super Eagles Supporters Club; Rev. Sam Ikpea headed the Nigeria Football Supporters Club; Kemi Popoola presided the Football Fan Club of Nigeria; Abayomi Ogunjimi led the Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club; Sunny Gullong served as president of the Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club; while Johnson Dagana led the All Sports Supporters Club.
But in a strong move in 2025 to put an end to all the shenanigans, and sue for peace, the
leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) took a stance by constituting an Interim Management Committee (IMC) under a unified body known as the Nigeria Football and Sports Supporters Group (NFSSG).
However, one year down the line, the IMC which was inaugurated in February 2025, with a clear mandate to unify all the factions and reposition the supporters’ movement for stability and progress, with its tenure strictly for one year as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed by all parties, it’s not clear what the future holds for the movement today with an uneasy silence which speaks loud.
Avid followers of the unfolding events and stakeholders are apprehensive with their fears stemming from the fact that the one-year tenure has elapsed with no clear direction as to where the ship is being navigated. They wondered whether the gains of the last one year would be consolidated or whether the group would be allowed to plunge into deeper quagmire.
Since the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Nigeria’s football supporters’ club has grappled and has been ridden with internal crises that threatened its very soul or foundation. All efforts to settle things within by its founding fathers proved abortive and elusive.
Nigerian football remains the worse hit by the
continued leadership palaver and divisions which are fanned by selfish, egocentric interest at the alter of collective progress.
But the NSC against all odds brought all the factions together, setting up the Interim Management Committee to midwife the transition into a unified body.
The IMC set up has Vincent Okumagba as Chairman, Peter Abraham as Vice Chairman, Sunny Gullong as Secretary, Amaka Okediadi as Financial Secretary, and Johnson Dagana as Treasurer, which was a step in the right direction.
The terms of the MoU signed in February 2025, equivocally stated that the IMC was established to marshal the affairs of the unified supporters’ body for a period of one year from the date of inauguration.
The agreement stated thus:“The IMC would comprise representatives from the formerly divided factions, with fair and equal representation.
“The committee would oversee the transition process, restructure the organisation, and lay the groundwork for future leadership.
“Members of the IMC would not use undue influence or any means to position themselves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.“The tenure of the IMC would be strictly one year, non-renewable, and non-extendable under any circumstances.
“Upon expiration of its tenure, a duly elected executive body would take over the affairs of the group.
“The agreement was duly signed by the leaders of the various factions, signaling a collective commitment to unity.”
What is not clear now is why elections have not been conducted or plans for a free and fair elections put in place to douse any suspicion or foul play.
Therefore, the NSC and NFF should not relent or rest on their oars until one united, unified supporters’ club movement is achieved again.
