A youth movement, the Goodluck Jonathan Solidarity Group (GJSG), has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency disband the Segun Adeniyi Panel investigating the bonus crisis in the Super Eagles because it is a distraction that can cause Nigeria the 2014 World Cup ticket.

GJSG President, Mr. Musa Gayere, in a statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express described the Segun Adeniyi panel as an attempt by the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, to hide his role in the crisis.

“By rushing to set up the panel, the minister clearly wants to hijack the process to hide his role and that of the Nigerian Football Federation,” Gayere said.

He argued that “the minister and the federation, Stephen Keshi and the players should be investigated,” adding: “We are for an investigation, but by the Federal Government. The minister cannot be a judge in his own case. He has already made up his mind that Stephen Keshi, Mikel Obi, Chigozie Agbim and Vincent Enyama are guilty. So what his friend Segun Adeniyi is supposed to do is to confirm his position.

“The other reason why we want the panel disbanded is the timing. We have three crucial World Cup matches around the corner. It is the same mistake they made which led to the crisis. They want to jeopardise the qualification of Nigeria. The Federal Government should probe the crisis because we are aware the federation had a budget. What was approved for them? When they had financial crisis did they inform the government? What have they done with the 3.2 million United States dollars Nigeria got for winning the Africa Cup of Nations and participating in the FIFA Confederations Cup? At what point did they inform the players of the bonus slash? Answers to these questions are critical as we move on.”

On the way forward, GJSG asked the Federal Government to restore the bonus to 10,000 USD for the three World Cup matches, saying that thereafter a decision should be taken on what the players would be paid. It however cautioned that all stakeholders must be carried along, saying: “Part of the problem is communication gap between the federation and the players.We must also stop talking down on our players because they are adults.”

On the issue of patriotism, GJSG stressed that it is not enough to preach patriotism to the players when NFF members would always troop out to competitions even when most of them have no role to play at such competitions.

The movement also described as a disgrace the failure of the NFF to pay the coaches their monthly salary, asking: “Have they gone to the Federal Government to ask for money to offset what they owe? Or they want the coaches to boycott training before they do something?”

•Photo shows Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi.

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