The Holy Bible tells us in the book of Matthew 2:1–12 how the wise men came from the East following a star to find Jesus when he was born. It says they brought three gifts namely gold, frankincense, and myrrh which they presented to baby Jesus who they found in Bethlehem.
We are not told from which particular country they took off from but the East is believed to be in one of today’s Middle East countries. Those biblical wise men, we are told, heard that a Messiah was born and were guided to find Him by following a miraculous star.
Tomorrow another set of ‘wisemen’ would be visiting Nigeria, not to see any Messiah but aggrieved stakeholders who have risen against those perceived to have destroyed Nigeria’s football. These ‘wise men’ are coming from football’s world gov- erning body, FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, not with gifts but words of caution and advice at the same time.
They are not coming because they heard of any ‘crisis’ but because the Nigerian government through the National Sports Commission, NSC, which oversees the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF went to them to brief them about the reason for the reform Nigerians are demanding for football administration.
This is because over time, the administrators Nigerians gave the mandate to organise the game in a way it would benefit them and their country have always threatened them each time they seek to ask questions about either the finances of the Federation or the officials’ administrative style.
Among the aggrieved stakeholders FIFA officials may be hearing from are Segun Odegbami, former Green Eagles player and captain, Godwin Dudu-orumen, an ardent football fol- lower, lawyer, analyst and administrator. Writing about the ‘crisis’ which engulfed the country’s foot- ball that has necessitated the FIFA visit, Dudu-orumen has asked