NPL war of words deepens
by George Akpayen 05 January 2013, 15:47
The war of words in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) is taking a new dimension with Mike Idoko berating Nembe City vice-chairman, Meremu Okara.
Okara had told supersport.com this week that Idoko, who is Executive Director with the Ondo State Football Agency, should resign and "take up a position as a ministerial spokesperson in the crisis rocking the NPL board."
The Nembe City chief also pointed out that Idoko is not qualified to be on Sunshine Stars' management board in line with "Article 1.94 of the rules and regulations of NPL."
But Idoko's personal assistant, Harry Yachi, has said Okara's comments are misguided.
Yachi also went on to advise Okara to achieve the feat of Idoko before making "unfounded allegations."
"In Nigeria today, when you talk of administrators in the Premier League or club football, the name of Mike Idoko will come up alongside many other achievers because he has achieved a lot. He has been in the helms of different clubs in different geo-political zones in this country. What has Meremu (Okara) achieved? When he achieves what Idoko has achieved then he can talk.
"As for his claims that Idoko shouldn't be part of Sunshine Stars' management board, it's a laughable statement to make. Has he forgot that his boss sued Idoko alongside 19 others as club owners in a court of law? If Idoko isn't recognised as such so why sue him as one of the club owners in the NPL. Okara needs to get his facts right before he speaks," said Iyachi.
"And he should also go and sort out the issue of the court case hanging over his club before picking holes in the achievement of other people and clubs."
There have been claims and counter-claims in the Nigerian top flight since the removal of the Premier League board chaired by Victor Rumson Baribote in December by 19 NPL clubs during their congress in Abuja.
Baribote first claimed in an interview with supersport.com that the sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi played a key role in his removal as Premier League, which the minister dismissed.
The top flight in Nigeria is currently under an Interim Management Committee (IMC) chaired by a former lawmaker, Nduka Irabor.
