Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o has publicly defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino, insisting the Swiss administrator has “not done anything wrong” and deserves another term at the helm of world football.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker believes Infantino’s leadership has transformed global football, particularly by creating more opportunities for smaller nations and boosting football development across Africa.

Speaking to CNN Sports, Eto’o argued that the recent scrutiny surrounding Infantino should be viewed in the context of the upcoming election rather than as a reflection of his leadership.

“He has not done anything wrong”

Eto’o made his position unmistakably clear when asked about the criticism directed at the FIFA president.

“I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” Eto’o said.

The FECAFOOT president suggested that the timing of the criticism is closely linked to FIFA’s electoral cycle.

The four-time African Player of the Year credited Infantino with reshaping international football by expanding access to major tournaments.

Eto’o pointed to the FIFA World Cup’s expansion as one of the Swiss official’s most significant achievements.

He said, “President Gianni Infantino has changed football. He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions.”

Beyond the expanded World Cup, Eto’o believes African football has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Infantino’s presidency.

The former Cameroon captain praised FIFA’s support for national associations across the continent.

He added, “He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly. We need to acknowledge that. We need to accept and recognise what he’s done, and we should support him for everything he’s done up to now.”

Infantino’s presidency has faced criticism from several football organisations, including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation, particularly after a controversial proposal involving private investment in FIFA tournaments was eventually abandoned.

Despite that opposition, the FIFA president continues to enjoy strong backing from much of African football.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already declared its support for Infantino’s re-election campaign, giving him a significant bloc of votes ahead of the next presidential contest.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to receive the full budget proposed for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, with five months to the polls.

Report says the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, made the disclosure during an interview in Abuja.

“When asked if the commission had accessed the proposed budget of N873.78 billion for the 2027 elections five months to the polls, Eta-Messi said only part of the money had been released so far.” the report further mentioned.

“The Hon. Chairman had earlier stated that 60% of the funds for the 2027 General Election had been received by the commission. We are yet to receive the outstanding,” she said.

Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides that “The election funds due to the Commission for any general election shall be released to the commission not later than 6 months before the next general election.”

On the proposal by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan that funding for the commission should be drawn directly from the Federation Account, Eta-Messi said discussions are still ongoing.

“Engagements are still in process with regard to drawing from the Federation Account,” she stated.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, also confirmed that the commission had received part of the 2027 election budget.

Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, 16th January 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on 6th February 2027.

The electoral body had proposed a total budget of N873.78 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, with substantial allocations meant for election operations, technology and capital expenditure.

Amupitan, while making a presentation before the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Electoral Matters at the National Assembly on Thursday, February 12th, 2026, noted that the budget was prepared in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.

He said the proposed budget was carefully structured under four major heads.

According to him, Election Operations Cost accounts for N375.75 billion, Election Administrative Cost would get N92.31 billion, Election Technology Cost gets N209.21 billion, and Election Capital Cost has N154.90 billion budgeted for it.

In addition, a miscellaneous provision of N41.01 billion brings the grand total to N873,778,401,602.08.

He clarified that the N873.778 billion required for the 2027 polls is separate from the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal, in which INEC plans to spend N171 billion on its operations, including the conduct of by-elections and off-cycle elections.

According to Prof. Amupitan, the projected election budget does not include a fresh proposal by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) seeking an increase in allowances for Corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.

In a tweet on the commission’s account on 28 July, 2026, the INEC Chairman called for constitutional and electoral reforms that would guarantee genuine financial autonomy for the electoral body.

Politics has always received an all-time low in terms of reckoning in recent times, especially since the advent of politics in 1999.

The perception of many a people is that politics has been thrown to the dogs, becoming the personal fiefdom of charlatans, and other undesirable elements.

Consequently, the popular refrain in the polity is that “the worst of us are ruling the best of us”, in a society with the highest population among the black race.
Even the signs stare all in the face as some of those who occupy exalted offices fall short of the minimum standards in most societies.

Compared with post-independence politics, today’s politics is devoid of gravitas, wits and credibility, compared to the politics of old.

That was the era when men were men, with notable figures as Sir Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ladoke Akintola, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro and other notables as leading lights.

It was an era of razzmatazz, oratory skills, glitz and glamour at its best on the political turf, with many aspiring to become like these heroes.Those were unforgettable days when political figures dominated the air waves with informed commentary in various spheres of national life, selling themselves and their manifestos

No wonder, the various regions competed among themselves in a manner that prospered the people like never before. Posterity would never forget the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for changing the fortunes of many homes which grabbed the opportunity offered by free education across western region ​
Compare that era with what is happening in Nigerian politics today and you would almost weep for a country regarded as giant of Africa.

In terms of human and material resources, Nigeria leads the pack, but in terms of quality politics, it is at its lowest ebb.
That is why the situation in Ogun state today calls for caution as the 2027 elections stare us in the face. The state has always been peaceful, though politicians sometimes create unnecessary tension through their actions and utterances.

Meanwhile, words are very powerful and therefore need to be carefully used in conveying messages to woo the electorate.
These are a combination of people cutting across different sectors, most of whom are able to decipher.
It therefore behooves politicians to look at issues affecting the state dispassionately and tell the people how they hope to tackle them for their benefit.

Unfortunately, what we have seen thus far is throwing of needles tantrums, especially from the camp of the opposition.
The Gateway State, as Ogun is fondly called, is a state brimming with potentials that need to be harnessed for the good of the people.

Its proximity to Lagos makes it an asset and advantage as many investors see Ogun as the next investment destination.
Luckily, Governor Dapo Abiodun has been able to lay the foundation for future administrations to tap into to take the state to greater heights.

His completion of the Gateway Airport is a welcome development and its dividends is bound to improve business within and around the state.

Aside this, Ogun State has a pact with Lagos, the nation’s economic capital, courtesy of the Abiodun administration.
It is therefore incumbent on political gladiators in the coming polls to tell the people how they hope to further develop the state instead of engaging in mudslinging.

Unbridled allegations only distract the people, inflame tension and create fear among the people.
The focus should therefore be on job creation, investment opportunities, affordable healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, sports and more.

It is for this reason that credit must go to APC Governorship hopeful, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, also known as Yayi, for crafting a robust message that meets the hopes and aspirations of the people.

Close watchers of his politics would see a focused, visionary and deliberate attempt to touch the lives of the people spread across different strata.

From his days as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Yayi has been deliberate about touching the lives of his constituents, positively

The experience he garnered over the years is what has made him among the most impactful politicians of his generation.

Going by his political trajectory, the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Yayi has spread his tentacles across the length and breadth of Ogun State with uncommon vigour.

This he has done with tact and humility, such that his impact has drawn so many into the APC across the length and breadth of Ogun State.

It is therefore not uncommon to tackle a man with his kind of credentials by opposition elements who are wowed by his intimidating credentials.
Instead of taking him up on issues, they resorted to cheap blackmail, mudslinging and name calling, all in a bid to stop this moving train.

Rather than take on them, the APC Governorship hopeful is replying them through mega initiatives.
targeted at raising the standard of the people across the state.

Therefore, whether you go to Ijebu, Egba, Yewa or Remo, the impact is too glaring to be ignored.
In Ijebu Water Side alone, he is currently working on the electrification of over 50 communities to the tune of 500 million naira, same for about 1 billion naira grant to traders across the state.

This is aside scholarships to students all over the states, grants to artisans, sponsored vocational training and upgrade of Federal Poly to a University and setting up of a Police Academy in the state

Undoubtedly, Yayi remains the first senator in Ogun State history to have impacted the state’s three senatorial districts simultaneously in less than four years!

Meanwhile, all these are not without resistance. For those who think Senator Adeola would engage in tantrums with the opposition, they would need to ask those who engaged him using gun-toting elements in the race for Lagos West Senatorial District. Not only were they defeated by the mass of the people, they got to learn that politics is not about bravado but deployment of superior intellectual prowess

Yayi’s school of politics revolves around politics without bitterness with the people as the focal point of politics, a trait he has demonstrated and would continue to demonstrate even after landing at the Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan in 2027.
Adefulu, a Journalist writes from Lagos