NFA, envoy defend Gov. Odili's gift to Black Stars

GOVERNOR Peter Odili's monetary gift to members of the Black Stars after a World Cup game against the Super Eagles should not be made an issue, a top NFA official has said.

Rather, the gift, the official said portrays the hospitality inherent in African culture.

According to him, "it is a common thing in Africa to give gifts to visitors when they are about to go. In the olden days, our forefathers gave yam tubers, goats, cowries and so on. So, if the Governor of Rivers State in his magnanimity decided to give a visiting team some money after a game, he is keeping to the culture of his people. It will be act of mischief to read any other meaning to the gesture'', said the F.A official who pleaded for anonymity.

On Wednesday, Ghana Football Association Chairman, Ben Koufi admitted receiving some money from Governor Odili, but he quickly added that the money was not a payment for fixing the World Cup game which Nigeria won 3-0.

According to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports monitored in Lagos yesterday, said the chairman allegedly admitted receiving the money during an interview on Joy FM, an independent radio station based in Accra. Yes, money change hands but the motive he said was clean.

Koufi said that Governor Odili gave the Black Stars and official $25,000 at a party in Port Harcourt.

He claimed to have initially declined the offer but later change his mind when the governor made it clear that it was a personal gift to the team and that he had treated other teams the same way when they visited Port Harcourt.

Koufi further said that the gift was subsequently announced, and was later distributed among the players and officials.

However, the deputy youths and sports minister, Mr. Joe Aggrey who accompanied the team declined his own share of the cash.

Mr. Aggrey, a former sports writer confirmed Koufi's account of the story to BBC. He said he believes the gift was not ill-motivated. He said if the money was meant to influence the outcome of the match, it would have been pre-arranged and it would not have been announced publicly.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Sam Okechukwu said he knew about the gift.

In his words: "It was freely given and freely received, there was nothing secret or sinister about it."

He said this culture of giving to friends and visitors is neither new in Nigeria nor is it evil

But the opposition NDC parliament in Ghana has called for full scale investigations into the matter and the immediate suspension of Aggrey and the GFA, Chairman Koufi.

It will be recalled that Peter Odili also gave members of the Super Eagles $50,000 after the World Cup game against Ghana.