The Unseen Plot Against Ifeanyi Ekwueme—A Threat to Enyimba’s Future

There’s a quiet storm brewing in Aba, and it has nothing to do with the on-field battles Enyimba faces in the Nigeria Premier Football League. This one is off the pitch and it centers around the club’s Sporting Director, Ifeanyi Ekwueme.

In recent weeks, there has been a subtle but calculated attempt by some state actors to orchestrate Ekwueme’s removal. While these moves may appear harmless on the surface, any close observer of Nigerian football politics will know that subtlety is often the first sign of something sinister.

Let’s be clear: Ifeanyi Ekwueme’s appointment brought a breath of fresh air to Enyimba. His football knowledge, international experience, and no-nonsense approach to club administration have been key in attempting to reposition the People’s Elephant for sustained success. But it’s precisely this professionalism and demand for transparency that has put him in the crosshairs of those who prefer to operate in the shadows.

Sources around the club suggest that Ekwueme’s refusal to play ball with certain interests has made him an obstacle an unwanted voice of reason in a system that often thrives on manipulation and backdoor dealings. This raises serious concerns: are the people trying to push him out genuinely acting in the club’s best interest, or are they seeking to clear the path for questionable practices that his presence has prevented?

The Abia State Government must not watch this play out with indifference. Enyimba FC is not just a football club it’s a brand, a cultural symbol, and arguably the most successful football institution in Nigeria. Decisions affecting the club’s leadership should be made transparently and based solely on merit, not political scheming or personal vendettas.

If there are legitimate concerns about Ekwueme’s performance, let those issues be raised in the open, with facts and figures. But if this is another veiled attempt to hijack club affairs for selfish gain, then we must all resist it fans, media, former players, and every lover of Nigerian football.

We’ve seen this movie before. Honest administrators get pushed out, and soon after, the rot sets in funds mismanaged, players unpaid, fans disillusioned. Enyimba is too important to be thrown back into that cycle. The club needs stability, structure, and leaders who put football before politics.

Ekwueme may not be perfect, but what he represents a shift toward transparency and long-term planning is exactly what Nigerian football needs. His removal, if done without clear justification, would not just be a disservice to him, but a massive blow to the credibility of the club and state.

The alarm bells are ringing. Let’s hope those in power are listening.