The media reports claimed to have uncovered the "facts" of how Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki and controversial players’ agent, John Shittu, sold tissues of lies to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) Chairman, Rotimi Ameachi; on how Glenn Hoddle was denied Super Eagles’ job because some members of the panel demanded kick-back".

Dr Saraki, who was reacting to the allegation while speaking with newsmen in his office, described the report as misleading and reckless in its entirety.

His words: "I find this report in bad taste and in bad faith", pointing out that even though the newspaper claimed it was reporting "facts", it is not difficult to see the motives behind the reckless allegation, which he claimed was nothing but a desperate effort to cover up monumental fraud and deceit that characterized the hiring of a technical adviser for the national team.

Saraki, who claimed meeting with Glenn Hoddle on the issue, explained that his involvement was deliberate, patriotic and based on his strong conviction that the right thing must be done no matter how desperate we are to hire a technical adviser that will take the country to the 2010 World Cup.

"Specifically, I met Glenn Hoddle on Thursday 25th February 2010 in company with Jerome, his agent and John Shittu who had earlier sought audience with me. It was in the course of this meeting that I learn’t that contrary to the reports emanating from the Nigerian Football Federation, Glenn  Hoddle seemed to have lost the job for reasons other than we were told", the Governor said.

According to him, Hoddle had initially requested for a fee of 900,000 USD but claimed that an official of NFF had approached Shittu after the interview, insisting that if Hoddle wanted the job he must agree for an upward review of his fees to 1.5 Million USD, and be willing to remit the difference of 600,000 USD to some officials.

Worried by this ugly development, Dr Saraki advised Hoddle not to play along, warning that if he did that to get the job, "he would probably be doing that for his remaining days in Nigeria".

Given these circumstances, however, the Governor said he promptly briefed the PTF Chairman, Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State and accordingly agreed to arrange for the agent (Jerome) to brief him.

Saraki, who advanced three main reasons for taking up this issue, principal among which were the love for football by Nigerians and issue of corruption, said those who planted the story in the papers were trying to pre-empt a full disclosure of their dubious transaction. 

He warned that attack as a form of defence can only work where there no facts and allegations cannot be corroborated. "Will the PTF/NSC/NFF be offering to pay 1.5 USD

when the person involved said he only asked for 900,000 USD", Saraki queried.

"Who was going to get the balance of 600,000 USD? Definitely not the agent, as there is no business anywhere in the world where an agent or a facilitator, by whatever name called, would get paid almost the same amount as the principal", he expressed worry.

The issue involved here, Saraki noted, is that of integrity which must not be allowed to pass unchallenged, adding that care must be taking not to take any action that is likely to distract our efforts to prepare well for the 2010 World Cup. 

MAS’UD ADEBIMPE

Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor

09/03/10