The Chairman of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, Dr. Philip Nongu, had in a recent briefing with sports journalists in Makurdi, admitted full responsibility for Lobi’s relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to the Nigeria National League (NNL). He also said that as a civil servant, any amount of money that goes out from the club to both the players and staff must be signed for because at the end of the day he will give an account of it.
Terfa Alaghga covered the event for The VoiceSports
Excerpts;
When did you take over as Chairman of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi?
The board led by me took over activities of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi in 2024, two days before the commencement of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) season.
Are you saying you were not the one that recruited the players for that season?
All the players were recruited and registered by the past administration of the club. When we took over, there were key issues that were raised by the players and the backroom staff, ranging from non payment of salaries, match bonuses, clearance and so on and we were able to tackle the issues.
How were you able to tackle the issues, particularly payment of salaries?
We ensured that all the three months’ salaries owed everybody were paid. In fact, when I got there I discovered that the players and staff did not know exactly what their monthly salary was. I knew that something was wrong and I requested for all their contract papers where I discovered that they were not paid the exact amount that they signed for. For example, the then Head Coach of the club, Eugene Agagbe’s contract was reading ₦1,500,000 as his monthly salary but he was taking home ₦500, 000 only. For some, it was what comes to their account that they took home as salary. I corrected it and they began collecting what they had signed for.
In a nutshell, what are you saying in that regard?
I am saying that since I came on board, I have never owed any player or staff a dime. The only time we delayed payment of salary was in June and this was because after the 2024/2025 League season, they all left and when they resumed their June and July salaries were paid to them.
How would you describe the 2024/2025 NPFL season play by Lobi Stars FC?
The 2024/2025 NPFL season was one of the toughest in the history of the club. It was a season that was meant to reflect on our vision and ambition but ended up in a disappointment, with the club going on relegation to the NNL. While the result on the pitch was not what we had hoped for, I will say the story of the season goes beyond statistics and standings.
Would you attribute this development to the challenges that the club faced?
There is no doubt about it. We faced relentless internal and external attacks from football agents, club insiders and power brokers who placed their personal interests over the club’s collective progress. There was deliberate sabotage at various levels ranging from technical instability, player attitude concerns and administrative backsliding. Insults and character defamation became a daily reality for us. My executives and even some of my players.
Are you saying, you were the target?
Of course, I know that some certain individuals were lobbying for my removal thereby, ceding on the club’s struggles as a political opportunity not to call for unity. The morale of the team was attacked not only by the poor results but also by the toxic campaigns that were fuelled by misinformation and half truth.
Misinformation and half truth. How do you mean?
What that simply means is that all they claimed were happening and the stories that they were telling people about the club were not true. Unfortunately, some of the people were not ready to ask us in order to know the truth because they wanted to tarnish the image of the entire board. It is unfortunate.
How would people know the truth on the happenings in Lobi?
If you want to know anything about Lobi Stars FC, ask me and I will tell you as it is because I do not have any skeletons in my cupboard.
Who really is to take responsibility for Lobi’s relegation to the Lower Division?
Lobi is relegated and that is the truth and we take full responsibility as a board and management of the team. Mistakes may have been made but what we should know is that the difference between failing and progress is the willingness to learn and we are learning quickly and firmly. As a Christian, I believe it is God’s design for Lobi to go on relegation.
What is your assurance to Lobi fans?
I want to assure Lobi fans and stakeholders that rebuilding the team has already started with the unveiling of a new Technical Adviser. We are learning from our errors by revamping our technical team, scouting for disciplined and talented players and also putting in place a based structure that rewards hard work and results.
What are your encouraging words to the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia for his unwavering commitment to the club?
I must first and foremost, thank God for the workaholic and sports loving governor that He has blessed Benue State with. I am grateful to him for reaffirming his total support for Lobi Stars FC. With that assurance from him, we will not just aim at returning the club to the NPFL but will also come back stronger, better structured and more United. On his call to consider signing indigenous players into the team, we are doing just that and I wish to state here clearly that, we will consider recruiting younger players to replace the ageing ones who are no longer fit to play for the club.
What is your message for the club’s critics?
Let it be known that Lobi Stars FC is not Dr Philip Nongu’s property, the club belongs to the people of Benue State, so no amount of media blackmail, ethnic politics or lobbying will derail our vision. We will continue to remain focused. When His Excellency appointed me as the Chairman of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, he told me that, “Philip, Lobi is broken go and fix it”. I will ensure that I do exactly what he told me to do.
Is there any hope for Lobi playing at the Aper Aku stadium this season?
You are all aware that the contract for the renovation of the Aper Aku Stadium was awarded to Monimichel but unfortunately, it was not followed accordingly. However, approval has just been made by the government for the completion of the Aper Aku stadium, which the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Creativity is processing and as soon as money is released, the stadium will be completed.
What is the state of the McCarthy Stadium now?
It was due to the delay in the completion of the Aper Aku Stadium that the Governor awarded the contract for the renovation of the McCarthy Stadium to Barr Paul Edeh. We are hoping that he will return to site and complete the work before the commencement of the League.
If the Aper Aku and McCarthy Stadiums are not completed before commencement of the League, where would you want to play your League matches?
We are proposing the Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina – Ala and the government has already informed the Chairman of the Local Government to ensure that the Stadium is fixed. By this Weekend, all the board members will travel to K/Ala to see the level of development of work there. However, we will continue to push for early completion of the Stadiums in Makurdi and we want you sports journalists to also help us push so that the government will hear our cry.
How true is the allegation that you run Lobi alone?
It is laughable when one says I run Lobi alone. We have minutes of all the meetings that we hold. The Club’s Secretary, Dr Iorngulum Malu is here and has the minutes book in his custody. Other board members, Harry Yachi and Solomon Andiir are all here and can also attest to it. Any decision I take on behalf of the club, all the board members are aware of it. For the coming of the coach too, they all knew. We proposed three coaches for the job and have found Coach Bala Abubakar as the best coach for the team and that is the reason he is here. The problem is that, some of the players peddling such rumours are doing so because they are no longer fit to play active football and are not happy that we are advising them to encourage the younger ones that would take over from them. If anybody tells you that I run Lobi alone, it is fallacy.
What would be your comment on Austin Tyowua’s persistent attack on your person?
I really would not want to comment much on that because I am not the first Chairman of Lobi Stars that he has written things against. He did it to Mike Idoko and got a job with the team and when Dominic Iorfa came back to the club again, he continued writing so why will I be an exception? But one thing that I don’t do in my life is to patronize such people and I will never do it because he writes things that he doesn’t even know. He said I embezzled June salary, while it was paid. Well, I will leave him with his conscience.
Would you confirm the rumour making the rounds that Lobi Media Director, Emmanuel Ujah was banned?
FIFA rules are very clear on allegations of match fixing and when you are bringing up such issues to the public, you must ensure that you have the evidence to defend your claims beyond any reasonable doubt. Of course some of us knew that something was happening in the club but we were taking our time to investigate the matter but the Media Director, Emmanuel Ujah came on air to accuse the players of Match fixing and for that reason, we were summoned to appear before the Arbitrations committee in Abuja. The interview he granted was played and when I was asked to comment on it, I reserved my comments and told them that Ujah was in a better position to comment on the issue and not me because the interview was not coming from the board of Lobi Stars FC. When he was asked, he could not defend his statement. That was the reason for his indefinite ban. As we speak, he is still under ban and any statement coming from him on behalf of the club is null and void until the ban is lifted. If I had claimed responsibility for the interview which he granted, it is Lobi Stars FC that would have been banned.
The SWAN had requested for an apartment for use as office at the Aper Aku stadium. How do you intend to tackle this issue and also carry the members along?
Although, we have challenges of office accommodation at the Aper Aku Stadium. However, I will ask the Acting Director of Sports at the Benue State Sports Council, Anthony Torbunde to secure any available apartment for SWAN’s use as an office and will also ensure that SWAN members travel with Lobi Stars for matches. When I became the Permanent Secretary of Youth, Sports and Creativity, I made provisions for SWAN members to travel to Abeokuta for the Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) and I want to still assure SWAN members that such opportunities will continue to come because we are prepared to carry them along and they too should also remember us.
