BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The grandfather and point man of organized football Supporters Club in Nigeria and Africa, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, has finally revealed who will succeed him as the next President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) .
Dr. Ladipo made the revelation in Lagos on Monday during an impromptu session which started filled with suspense and summoned at the instance of Primate Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church at the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) in Surulere, Lagos.
“I have had three national Chairmen succeed me since I left the position of National Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club before becoming the President-General of the club” Ladipo started.
“But the man, who is to succeed me as President-General when I bow out in due course, is Rev. Samuel Ikpea”. “He is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased with, and I have said this over time, and I will say it again and again, that Ikpea is my beloved son”.
Dr.Ladipo who was responding to the call made by Primate Ayodele during the impromptu session, concerning issues affecting relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), where the spiritual leader charged the NFF to make peace with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club if the Super Eagles will need to soar again.
He further stated that he was surprised at the manner in which some desperate power-seekers from the NFSC broke away to form their own supporters club, and noted that all their efforts have been met with further crises as they no longer now see each other.
“Some members from the club who could not cope with standard of discipline broke away to form another, it did not take long before they divided again, and now have four different Supporters club, but today they no longer see each other eye-ball to eye-ball, and it is because of their desperation”.
“But Ikpea whom I describe today as my beloved son in whom I am well pleased with has been very obedient and disciplined, that alone has shown that he is going to be the next man to succeed me as President-General when I am going to bow out”.
“It is not as if I do not disagree with Rev. Ikpea, of course we do disagree, but we always come to the table to look at the reasons for our disagreeing, to now take a decision which will be in the interest of the club”.
Ladipo who also appreciated Primate Ayodele for the recognition given to him by the INRI Church, he reminded him that he (Ladipo) had made sacrifices for the Super Eagles over the years which has helped shape the Super Eagles accomplish several feats.
“I carried Juju on my head for the National team for 13 years” Ladipo added. “This was a sacrifice we made to ensure that the Super Eagles succeeded in the 90’s and all those efforts paid off, but now we have put all of that behind, and moved on in life as people who look up to God”.
