The Minister of Youth
and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Monday in Abuja said the Ministry would not accept any action that would threaten the peace of the country.
Dalung, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, said both parties in the renewed crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must be guided by law.
Tidesports reports that a Federal High Court in Jos had on Friday reaffirmed its 2014 ruling.
The ruling had nullified the September 30, 2014 elections into the NFF executive committee, which brought Amaju Pinnick as NFF President.
Dalung said sports-loving Nigerians and the football family were thrown into a state of confusion by Friday’s development which sparked off another leadership crisis in the NFF.
The minister said this had also led to different press statements from both camps laying claim to the leadership of the federation.
He then warned that both parties must be guided by the rule of law.
“This current administration believes in the rule of law and all of our actions must be guided by the provisions of the law.
“Therefore, anything that suggests the contrary will not be in the interest of the nation.’’
Dalung however pointed out that the Pinnick-led executive committee had a 30-day right to appeal the court decision.
“The decision of the court will only take effect if the right to appeal expires and the Pinnick-led board fails to exercise its right.
“It will be out of place for any group of persons who have enjoyed the protection of the law to now turn round and want to deny the other party of their own right.
“The announcement of the dissolution of standing committees and appointments by the Giwa-led executive committee, even when the Pinnick-led board had gone to appeal, is not in the interest of football,’’ he said.
The minister called on all parties to the dispute to maintain peace and respect the rule of law, adding that the judicial process must be allowed to run its full course.