The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed shock over the death on the morning of Sunday 18th August 2019, of a former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League and 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Oyuki Jackson Obaseki.
The 75 –year old breathed his last on Sunday in Benin City, having left his giant footprints in the sands of time with his extensive work, passion and vision to take Nigeria League’s elite division to new heights. He was pioneer chairman of the body known as Interim Management Committee which was inaugurated in February 2005, and which transmuted to the Nigeria Premier League the following year.
“A truly big tree has fallen. We remember very much the work that Chief Obaseki did to promote and project the elite division of the Nigeria League during his time as chairman. It was difficult to match his passion and energy as he pursued his vision for an independent League body.
“We worked together at some point during the early days of the efforts to reposition the Nigeria Premier League. He took everything that needed to be done as a project and drove everyone else around him hard to play their own roles appropriately,” Acting President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi said on Sunday.
Obaseki, known with the alias Moving Train, was also the Ohe of Bini Kingdom – a very high–ranking position in one of the oldest Kingdoms in the universe.
As Chairman of the Premier League, Obaseki was automatically the 2nd Vice President of the NFF during the presidency of Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi – 2006-2010.
In a related development, the Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria (Club Owners) has described as sad and shocking the reported news of the death of a former chairman of the then Nigeria Premier League NPL late Chief Oyuki Obaseki.
The late Benin chief and astute Football Administrator died on Sunday Morning after a brief illness.
Chief Obaseki known as one of the architects of modern-day Nigeria top-flight Football league brought some reforms during his days which made the league highly lucrative and attractive to several sponsors and partners.
The late NPL boss also called the ‘Moving Train’ during his days at the helms of affairs in the league always frowned at clubs payment of match officials indemnities which he eradicated.
Club Owners said in a statement jointly signed by the chairman Barr Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary Alloy Chukwuemeka that the late chief Obaseki would be remembered for his strict adherence to the rules of the league which was the hallmark of his administration.
The Association prayed for the repose of his soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
