By Chinedum Ohanusi
Now that efforts geared at ensuring that the tenure of Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kida, as President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) ends seems to have gathered good momentum, there are indications, that pockets of shots, being fired by rival groups, could again derail the end game.
One major take away from a meeting of critical stakeholders, held at the Media Centre of the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja, on Friday last week, was that the NBBF elections which the National Sports Commission (NSC) earlier scheduled for January 26, was no longer feasible.
The second, and most remarkable take away from that meeting, was that the tenure of the current board of the NBBF ends on January 31, that’s exactly the fourth year of the last elective Congress, held in Benin City, in. 2022.
While sanctioning the date, the NSC, and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), both envoked the constitution of the body, in granting the NBBF Congress, sweeping power to take full charge of the process, leading to the election of a new board, on or before March 31.
But rather than stay united, and focused on the task till the very end , some stakeholders and potential rival camps, appears to be more interested in out-manouvering each other, in their battle of the soul of Nigeria’s basketball.
The unfolding events, in the basketball federation reminds me of the main character of a book written by Anezi Okoro, _One week, One trouble._ While it is very normal to have the potential successors to Kida, justle to have their noses in front, it is a bit worrisone Nigeria’s biggest troll, in basketball administration, a member of the Kida-led board, and the sitting President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, has been roped into the fight.
He has been accused as being the Kingmaker, who among others brought Engr. Kida to limelight. These stakeholders believe, there cannot be lasting peace, with the Benue-born administrator very much around.
But the response of Rtd. Col. Ahmedu, whose top-notch presentation, coupled with the documents he tendered, left many in awe on Friday, and effectively nullified the narrative, that the current board was only inaugurated in October 2022; some have been calling for his retirement.
While, urging his detractors to be careful, focus on the bigger picture, and desist from smear campaign, he has also warned of being able to hit back, where it may hurt most.
We can as well reflect here, that the decision of those that are plotting to throw him out of basketball relevance, are yet to tell who has been prepared to step into his shoes, as a member of the FIBA Africa board; a position no Nigerian has attained. It is also possible that he is being targeted because of his preference, for one of the two eminently qualified persons, lining up to become the next NBBF President.
