The National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) has suspended its planned protest march slated for Abuja over the killing of Remo Stars FC defender and vice captain, Tiyamiu Kazeem by security officers.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of NANPF, Comrade Austin Popo, informing its state councils, NAC, members and the general public, it stated that the union reached the decision to temporarily suspend the protest march after due consultations with relevant bodies, as well as the compelling conditions of the matter.
The statement read; ” Following preliminary dialogues between the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers led by its President Tijani Babangida MON, and and SA to the NFF President on Security, Chikelue Iloenyosi, a trustee of the union, and C P Umar Garuba Baba (Interpol), S A to IG on Public Policy and Strategies, Jude Nwaukor, coupled with the public outcry on the killing of Kazeem, leading to the subsequent intervention of the Inspector General of Police, M A, Adamu and his timely instructions to the DIG (FCID) Anthony Ogbizi, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Kazeem, NANP’s President Babangida has requested for a temporary suspension of the planned Protest mass Rally scheduled to hold in Abuja on 2nd of March 2020.
It further reads; ” It is important to note that part of the reasons the Union initiated the proposed mass protest rally, was to draw the attention of the IG due to the orchestrated plans by the Ogun State Police Command to cover the truth of the incidents that led to the unfortunate death of Kazeem.
” In view of this latest developments and coupled with the underground moves by some unscrupulous elements to hijack the planned rally, and of course, with its negative consequences of endangering the lives of our players, stakeholders and members of the public who had volunteered to be part of the Rally, the union had to take the best decision for now to temporally suspend the protest march, while still monitoring developments.”
Conclusively, the union acknowledges the unflinching commitments of its members, solidarity supports it has continued to enjoy by stakeholders in the football community, as well as members of the public, in its relentless efforts to engender a better life during and after active careers for Nigerian footballers, home and diaspora.
