In the aftermath of the just concluded Kwara State Football Association elections in Kaiama, the Northern part of the State of Harmony, the victorious Chairman, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa has said that the bid to move the round leather game forward more than ever before in the state will be vigorously pursued.
Speaking from the Seat of Power, Abuja, after presenting his certificate of return to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, Mallam Idris tasked all football stakeholders to forget the elections and focus on the development of the game for the sake of the youth.
“The process is free and fair enough, and equally transparent. The elections have been won and lost, but we must not forget that what binds all of us is the uplift of the game, which we must all come together to development, in the interest of all.
Mallam Idris, popularly known as Thuraya emerged as the democratically elected Chairman of Kwara FA for the second time in ground style on Tuesday June 13, 2023 in Kaiama, as he defeated his main challenger, Engr Abdullateef Olaide Ahmed 19 votes to four.
It would be recalled that the former Local Government Area Councillor in Kaduna State was ealier elected on June 13th, 2019, as the first democratically elected Chairman of the FA, and the first from the Northern part of the state.
Also, Bashorun Kayode Bankole was elected unopposed as the Vice Chairman, returning to that position for the second time.
Other Board members, all of whom emerged unopposed, are Hajia Segilola Alaya, Adeshina Bello, Wasiu Lawal, Tunde Sanni, Manzuma Maliki, Abubakar Ahmed and Salaudeen Jimoh.
Thuraya said that his Board will soon organise a ‘Stakeholders Forum’ to galvanise ideas and also identify more platforms at complementing the efforts of the government, sports and youth development bodies, especially in football, football biased philanthropists and others, in the nooks and crannies of the state to encourage the youth exhibit their talents.
He commended all the stakeholders, especially those that took part in the democratisation process of football in the state from the Football Councils levels, for assisting in entrenching a widely acceptable and all-inclusive system, adding that Kwara State leads and others follow in having a unique democratic institutions at all levels.
Thuraya equally commended the State government for sustaining the culture that supports growth in the positive direction. He also commended the Kwara State Sports Commission, headed by the Executive Chairman, Mallam Bola Mogaji, for their support, cooperation, and understanding.
He praised Engr. Abdullateef Olaide Ahmed for putting up a healthy and matured challenge that learnt credence to the whole exercise.
