The ambition of the Pillar Of Sports, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to contest
for the Presidency of the world football governing body, FIFA,
yesterday got a boost, with the first Republic Minister of Aviation,
Chief Mbazulike Amechi requesting President Muhammadu Buhari to support
the ambition of the former Abia State governor.Speaking to Expdonaloadedsports in his Ukpor, Nnewi South Local
Government Area, Anambra State country home, Amechi who was elated at
Kalu’s ambition, urged the president to see the contest Kalu is going
into as a Nigerian project and give him the fullest diplomatic and
logistic support.
Amechi, who is one of the few surviving nationalists said: “I was
highly elated when I read it in the newspapers that a Nigerian is
nursing the wish or desire to contest for the high office of the
president of the world football governing body, all things being equal.
My wishes and expectations ran high when it turned out that a Nigerian,
Kalu, a past governor of Abia State is the man.“Kalu is a great sportsman and lover and promoter of football, I remembered how an Aba Football Club (Enyimba) ruled the fields when he was the governor of Abia State.”
He noted that the federal government had in the past backed some of its citizens to get international jobs, stressing that with Kalu, a Nigerian in the race, it would further boost the country’s image around the globe.
Requesting the Presidency’s support for Kalu, Amechi said: “My first reaction is to appeal to President Buhari to give the fullest diplomatic and logistic support to Kalu. It is Nigeria that is contesting for this world highest office in football and not just Kalu,” Mbazulike stated.
“Government backing and support gave the chairmanship of OPEC to Rilwanu Lookman and Mrs. Dieziani Alison Madueke. It was government support and backing that gave high offices in the World Bank and African Development Bank to Mrs. Oby
Ezekwesili and Mrs. Okonjo Iweala.
“Since President Buhari’s election and inauguration, the image of Nigeria and international regard for us have taken along leap and no time is riper than now for us to seek world support in this most popular sporting field.
Nigeria has the highest number of professional and non-professional footballers spread all over Europe, Asia and the America. The presence of these sports ambassadors is a tremendous potential marketing of our wish to head the world football organization.
“Football is the strongest bond of unity, oneness and love among Nigerians of all ages, all gender, religion and tribe. I urge Orji to go ahead not looking back and the government and people of Nigeria to give him all the support he needs.
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