A former member of the Interim Management Committee and head of marketing and sponsorship of the Nigeria Premier League, Kasali Obanonyen, insists that the broadcast rights of the Nigerian topflight football league was duly awarded to Total Promotions under former chairman the late Oyuki Obaseki, The PUNCH reports.
The broadcast rights of the NPFL has been disputed for over a year, with Total Promotions threatening legal action after the rights was unbundled and handed over to different service providers.
Obanonyen, who has served in different capacities, including being the Chairman of Sunshine Stars of Akure, made this claim after the current NPFL board’s rebuke of Total Promotions involvement with the league.
Obanonyen said the league was floated by the Obaseki-led IMC board with a bail out fund from Total Promotions before the broadcast rights were awarded.
“Specifically, when we started the league, the problem was so huge that nobody thought the league was going to survive under Oyuki Obaseki. We didn’t have money and the Federal Government promised but they didn’t fulfil it. But Total Promotions came under Chief Niyi Alonge and bailed the league out with over N30m, which the league used to take off,” Obanonyen said during a radio interview.
“All the things that people are saying are not true, like saying they are not aware of the role of Total Promotions. The bidding was done and the right things were done fairly. When Glo was not even willing to accept the league, it was Total Promotions that salvaged it. As far as the legality and everything that concerns the broadcast right is concerned, it is owned by Total Promotions.”
Another lingering crisis bedevilling the broadcast rights of the league is the alleged legality of the Nigeria Football Federation, which operates the current league body against the defunct Nigeria Football Association.
According to Obanonyen, the current NPFL is shying away from verifying the facts, even with some members of the defunct IMC and other league boards still involved in the running of the league.
“The facts are there, Salisu Abubakar is still alive, (Davidson) Owunmi is still alive and the issues can be verified and validated. You don’t just get in the public space and say things in a condescending way to rebuke someone who has nurtured the league.
“It’s sad that we are dealing with situations where people don’t respect the laws of the land. They should appreciate the NFA Act. So, with the perpetual injunctions pronounced by Justice Okorowo, I know that it will take a long time, but justice will prevail.”
