The National Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Prince Vincent Okumagba, has vehemently dissociated himself and other executive members of the club from the statement purportedly issued by Rev. Samuel Ikpea, describing it as an unnecessary outburst that regrettably, never had his backing.

He added that no level of blackmail and other name calling would deter him and his executives from upholding the best practices devoid of ethnic trappings. He maintains that Rafiu Ladipo and Samuel Ikpea are habitual liars and manipulators of the highest order within the Supporters Clubs over the years.

Okumagba informed that the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung is the father of all the sports and has not in any way meddled into whatever Rafiu Ladipo and Samuel Ikpea are claiming to be the internal affairs of the Supporters Club. There is no iota of truth in their wide claims whatsoever.

“Let me make it categorically clear that all what Ladipo instructed Ikpea to feed the public with are nothing but half-truths full of their usual deceits and propaganda which have been the trademark of Rafiu Ladipo who with his cohorts have held captive, ran the supposedly national organisation to enrich themselves and now that their game is up, they are fighting dirty like fish out of water.

“I want to reassure our members, the public and our sponsors that my executive and I won’t be held down by any empty intimidation. They are to say the very least, like drowned people looking for something to hold for survival,” he explains.

He unequivocally informed that the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has no hand in the delay of our members visas to Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as being alleged by the suspended Secretary, Rev. Samuel Ikpea, and Ladipo rather it is their purely handiwork.

He posited that being a non-governmental organisation does not give license to Oladipo and his mischief makers the room to continue their antics which has sadly held the organisation backwards for many years now. Okumagba insists that bringing the Minister into their mess remains uncharitable and nonsensical.

“Ikpea was suspended by NEC in July 23rd in Lagos as such he does not have our backing to make any statement on behalf of the NFSC. I remain the authentic national chairman of the body empowered by our constitution to summon National Executive Committee and nobody else.

“It remains laughable for somebody to wake up to drag the name of the minister to the mud for no just cause, such attitude remains irresponsible of any person or group that muted the arrant nonsense and day dreaming futile exercise in the name of trying to gain cheap but temporary attention,” Okumagba stated.

Ladipo and Ikpea should be bold enough to tell Nigerians what is behind the delay of NFSC sponsorship money by Globacom and why the funds for the Olympics is yet to be released. The company knew I am the chairman and so would no longer entrust their hard earned money to these men. “I am not a member of Nigerian Football and other Sports Association where Ladipo claims to be President General and has been a matter of litigation at Abuja High between Ladipo and State Chapter men and Secretaries.

“Globacom will not give them money because Ladipo could not account for the 2014 World Cup funds and besides Globacom is aware that no funds must be released to the club without the knowledge of the national chairman.

“The Embassy of Brazil couldn’t have issued them visa on Nigeria Football Supporters Club platform as I am the only one recognised and introduced to the Embassy by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

“There is a pending case of someone who was caught in Egypt with hard drugs and was traced to him by the Embassy and that was the reason l changed him from visa desk and in the first place it was not his job to do.”

•Photo shows Prince Vincent Okumagba.

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