By Ben Efe 1.9.2026
While Nigerian football fans eagerly await the new direction the Nigeria Football Federation would take after the mass resignation by its executive board led by Ibrahim Gusau, Obafemi Martins’ suggestion Seyi Tinubu fits the bill is causing a furore.
The former Super Eagles strike who is friend to President Bola Tinubu’s son unabashedly said during a chat on John Mikel Obi’s podcast show Obi One, Seyi Tinubu is eyeing the seat, and this has sparked a storm on social media and on the airwaves.
“He’s young and he understands what Nigerian people want. I think he can change that. He can change that. He can change that,” Obafemi said.
“I mean, he’s not the President, but still he’s making an effort.”
However, football fans seem not to be amused by his suggestion.
Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze speaking on Brila FM said:
“For me it’s a bad idea.
“I don’t know what made Martins make such a statement, maybe because he’s a friend to Seyi Tinubu, but like I said, I don’t buy the idea.”
“If Martins claim we need young people to come and run our football, there are other young people.
“I was thinking he would mention a young person like Seyi Olofinjana. I was surprised by his choice, so for me Obafemi Martins is on his own.”
On X social media fans were brutal in their assessment of Obafemi’s suggestion.
@xuccessful_10: “You don use football to escape poverty but the slave mentality never leave you. What concerns seyi and football now?”
@okechukwu_leo: “At this point Nigerians need to stand up against these evil people”
@MichaelAbiodun_”NFF is not a youth empowerment program. NFF doesn’t just need youth, it needs someone who has actually run football – leagues, academies, sponsorships, FIFA politics. That job has broken ex-internationals who lived football all their lives.”
@DanielRegha: “What does Seyi Tinubu know about football that makes him qualified to lead the NFF? And what has he been doing that Nigerians praise him nonstop? Because I am yet to see what he has done before or now that his father has assumed power. Can we be serious?”
@megaeazy3:” This man has the IQ of a fish. Even Mikel will make a better NFF president
@andy_olotu: “Something is wrong with these ex-footballers in Nigeria. And I want to believe they only played in Europe, they didn’t allow Europe to play through them. What is this for God’s sake?”
@mrbuchy2: “OMG We’re in trouble in this country. How can a respected footballer like Martins spew such gibberish? Oh, I forgot—tribalism and personal interests. It’s the same script that has been playing out for years. We’ll never get it right in this country.”
@OrteseMickey: “Obafemi Martins is stupid. What knowledge or experience does Seyi have of the game? What happened to the Samuel Eto’os of Nigeria?? Jay-Jay is there, Kanu is there, Mikel is there, even you Obafemi Martins is there.”