The arrival of world soccer governing body, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino was greeted by massive protests at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, as several football stakeholders and ex-players reckoned that there are better issues to tackle in the country than spend lavishly on receiving gusts.
With Infantino making the visit in company of football federation presidents from over a dozen African countries, a cross-section of the protesters told SportsDay there were more cogent issues affecting the game in Nigeria that had been swept under the carpet.
The protests continued at Transcorp Hilton Hotel yesterday, as protesters carrying placards with different inscriptions displayed their displeasure over the visit, which they believe has belied the leadership crisis rocking Nigerian football administration.
At the arrival exit of the airport, placards with inscription urging Infantino to obey the laws of Nigeria were displayed and the lot at Hilton Hotel charged the FIFA supremo to remove embattled president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Melvin Amaju Pinnick.
While some of the placards attributed recent slumps by the Nigerian national teams to what they tagged Amaju’s ‘bad luck,’ Infantino merely smiled and waved to the crowed, then proceeded to an official bullet-proof car that was said to have been specially purchased for the visit.
Informed sources told SportsDay that the black Mercedes Benz car was purchased at the sum of N18.3million for the sole purpose to showcase to the FIFA boss how rich and welcoming Nigerians can be.
By the time the convoy drove to the entrance of Transcorp Hotel, a crowd of about 500 football stakeholders, including some ex-internationals bearing placards slowed the procession down to register their unhappiness with Pinnick’s tenure.
They were able to get their placards shown to the FIFA boss in a peaceful manner after which he was allowed to drive into the hotel.
There was no presence of any Nigerian government official or delegate from Switzerland’s embassy, while minister of sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung his counterpart from the ministry of foreign affairs were both absent.
Attempts by men of the Fourth Estate of the realm to have a word with the world’s football governing boss were blocked by security operatives and a dancing troupe that was organized to provide airport entertainment for the guests was shunned.
One of the protesters lamented: “Yet this same NFF that invited and welcomed Infantino cannot pay national team coaches and players their salaries and allowances.
On his part, Pinnick’s rival in the tussle for the NFF’s leadership, Ambassador Chris Giwa urged Nigerians not to lose sleep over Infantino’s visit, which he described as mere cosmetic.
Giwa said the right thing has to be done to revive Nigerian football, which he said would be better after Infantino’s visit, because the FIFA president will differentiate between propaganda and the truth.