The 45-year-old feels his second term victory at the polls was not his making but that of the football stakeholders in the interest of the game.
Amaju Pinnick
Amaju Pinnick has described as ‘no victor, no vanquished’ his re-election as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday as he insists ‘football is the winner’.
Pinnick earned a landslide victory to return as the NFF boss for the second term, defeating Aminu Maigari, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Chinedu Okoye at the NFF elective congress held in Katsina state.
The 45-year-old, who doubles as Caf first vice-president, gained a total of 34 votes - 26 more than his closest challenger and former NFF supremo Maigari, while ex-NFF scribe Ogunjobi got two votes but no vote for Bimo FC proprietor Okoye.
Having secured another four-year term, the former Delta FA boss pledged that his leadership will immediately embark on reforms in the move to halt internal wranglings in the nation’s football.
“There is no victor, no vanquished but football is the winner,” Pinnick told media after being re-elected in Katsina.
“Aminu Maigari is my big brother and I even call him my father and Taiwo Ogunjobi is also my big brother as well. We need to do what we have to do. First, we need to do is initiate reforms in our status.
“This is something that we need to start immediately to ensure true reconciliation. We have to do it right away. I am happy, though it is not about me or the executive committee the Congress who believed in us and will work hard not to fail them.
“I sincerely from the depth of my heart appreciate the president of the country for providing the enabling environment. I am from a micro-minority in Nigeria, tiny ethnic group and came to Katsina in the far north - the home of the president to win an election. What more does anyone need to believe that the president or government is detribalise and shows that the offers level playing grounds.
“This just rekindled my believe in Nigeria and I am eager to do something big for Nigeria football. This is a turning point for Nigeria football. We need to develop football beyond ethnicity and mediocrity."