Shock, Grief, Encomiums Trail Okpomo's Death
By Emeka Enechi, Tunde Sulaiman and Ayodeji Fashikun
The Nigerian football family was once again thrown into mourning yesterday when the death of Mr. Patrick Okpomo, member of both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) was confirmed to a bewildered nation by close confidant and Sports Consultant Chris Eseka.
Eseka said Okpomo died in the early hours of yesterday morning after battling with complications from an operation at St. Nicolas Hospital, Lagos. His remains were later deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary on Awolowo road, Ikoyi. He was admitted at the hospital two weeks ago.
Nigerians who reacted to his death, were thoroughly traumatized at the football administrator's demise which came barely one week after the death of Dozie Enemuo, Head of the Marketing Department of the NFA whose burial has tentatively been fixed for August 12.
Reacting to Okpomo's death, chairman of the NFA Ibrahim Galadima said it was Nigeria's worst moment in football. "This is quite shocking and sad. It is very sad indeed that Okpomo should die now when we all look up to him as one of our pillars in football administration. The Nigerian football family is even more saddened given the fact that we are still in the process of concluding arrangements for the burial of our Head of Marketing Department when the news of Okpomo's death broke out. I urge Nigerians and the football family to pray for the repose of his soul. We will miss him, no doubt."
Secretary General of the FA Taiwo Ogunjobi, was at the Lagos home of the late football administrator when we called, to commiserate with the family, was shocked beyond words.
He went philosophical when he picked himself up, praying God to guide, protect and provide for the family. "What can one say? This is the second case we are witnessing in one week. This is sad. This is coming barely one week after Dozie Enemuo's death. It is really unfortunate and sad. We can only ask God to look after his family."
In like manner, former chairman of the FA Anthony Kojo Williams who broke down in tears on hearing the news, bemoaned his death which he described as a monumental loss to Nigerian football and Africa in general. He said: "Please, I do not want to believe the story but if it is true that Patrick is dead, then Nigeria has lost the very foundation of her football. Patrick was very resourceful and highly respected both in CAF and FIFA because of his good rapport and quality public relations. He was highly respected for opinion on football administration. He was one of the most experienced and exposed football administrator Nigeria produced. There is no doubt that it will take us some years to find his replacement. May his soul rest in peace."
Kwara State governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki was also stunned when we sought his views on Okpomo's death."It is too short a period for Nigerian football to have lost another giant asset in the person of Mr. Patrick Okpomo coming at a period when the nation is yet to recover from the loss of Mr. Innocent Edozie Enemuo.
The governor lamented that, "a resource person like Okpomo who is respected and adored in FIFA and CAF for his wisdom and knowledge of football is a very sad loss at this moment. I pray that God in His infinite mercies will help the nation, his immediate family, the football family to cope with the big loss."
Sole Administrator of Enyimba International FC of Aba, Felix Agwu Anyansi wondered aloud the sins Nigerian football family committed and asked rhetorically "What have we done to lose two great football administrators in one week?"
He described as 'terrible', referring to his death as the "saddest moment in Nigerian football" adding "his loss is not only a big blow to Nigerian football but that of the continent at large".
In his comments, veteran sports journalist Mitchel Obi could not fathom why Okpomo should die at the moment given the responsibility on his shoulder as Nigeria's foremost football administrator. His words "I am indeed lost for words. How do I start? This was a man, still full of energy. He was a man loaded with eperience and exposure. The problem now is that it is going to be difficult to find somebody that will satisfactorily replace him. I look around and I ponder because it is pretty difficult getting somebody to relace him.
"It is really tough. This is a big blow to the Nigerian and by extension African football family. It is unfortunate that this came at a time when we are talking about restructuring and repositioning Nigerian football. He was appointed one of the resource persons for the proposed restructuring, now, we can't even have him around for his inputs."
And from the Cairo headquarters of the Confederation of African Football the body's Secretary General Mr. Mustapha Fahmy reacted thus: "CAF has lost one of its faithful members.
"The talented administrator has always shown of humour that made him a to-be-admired and respected within the football family at international and continental level.
"The vacuum he leaves behind will be difficult to fill."
Before joining CAF and FIFA, Okpomo served as Secretary General of the NFA on three different occasions - from 1984-87, 1989-1990 and in the year 2002. He also played a significant role as the Director of Organisation when Nigeria staged the Fifa World Youth Championship in 1999.
Given his experience in football administration, he was to be recalled to restructure the FA years after he had left the place by late Sports Minister Ishaya Mark Aku. He was recently appointed as a resource person in the latest restructuring effort by the current Minister Col. Musa Mohammed. He was 57.
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