Kwara FA Election: Intrigues, Lessons And Experiences

 Feature:

By Ayodeji Ismail 

Elections into the Board of the Kwara State Football Association, Kwara FA, has come and gone while the lessons from it linger on.

 It was a battle between the incumbent and the challenger; at the end of the contest, the incumbent, Mallam Idris Musa Abdullahi 'Turaya' emerged winner, polling 19 votes against the challenger, Engr Olaide Ahmad's four votes .

It was a show of love and exhibition of spirit of sportsmanship immediately after the announcement of results seeing, Engr Olaide congratulating the winner and even pledging his unalloyed support for his programs aimed at developing football from the grassroots.

There is no doubt that Engr Olaide fought a good fight and has made his mark as a force to be reckoned with in the administration of football in the state. That Engr Olaide could shake the status quo,  convince some delegates with his robust and intimidating manifestos to pitch tent with him in challenge of Mallam Idris Musa Turaya incumbency speaks volume of his determination and interest in sports administration, particularly soccer.

Chiefly, Olaide's selling point is the campaign to deepen grassroots football development, attract more sponsors into Kwara Football.

The plan also include expansive implementation of the programmes.

No doubt, Thuraya has to up his game in sports administration.For Engr Olaide, it was a hard experience to have contested and stand shoulder to shoulder against the incumbent to pursue Kwara FA exotic position.

 I believe experience garnered in the process would be built upon in the nearest future endeavors.

For Turaya, however, it was an experience, having also learnt that there is no push over in an electoral process. Now in Kwara FA, you can only underate an opponent at your own peril. 

Indeed, the interest of the two major actors and members is to ensure accelerated development of football in the state. With renewed hope and vigour, this must be the main target, focus and cardial policy of the second term administration of Turaya led Kwara FA.

Propaganda, over hyping, PR, sentiments exaggeration and fallacy of over generalization shouldn't derail us from accepting the results that brought in Turaya for another term in good faith, as the process was described by the stakeholders who were in Kaiama as free, fair, credible and transparent.

 Live streaming of the exercise on social media platforms was also available, in fact; the first time in the history of the Kwara FA Electoral process.

Despite the fact that  many stakeholders expressed reservation over the choice of Kaiama by the Congress, as the venue for the elective Congress, it was however a big deal for the town in terms of improved economic activities of the area within a very short period of time of the election.

But this development should not be a one run off thing, more  participatory Programs should be taken to the grassroots to fast track development of the state.

As journalists, I think it behooves on us to keep supporting the Kwara FA's good initiatives, ideas and advise them, while also giving constructive criticism.

All of these are geared towards the growth of football in the state to the next level of development.

Engr Olaide and Mallam Idris Musa Turaya should cross fertilize ideas  and ensure unity of purpose among critical stakeholders to guarantee development.

The time to work is now, delay could be dangerous !