_…March 31 Deadline Set for New NBBF Board_
By Chinedum Ohanusi
The air of uncertainties, surrounding the tenure of the out-going board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), and the unclear pathway, to the election of a new board to run affairs of the sport, in the country, received some clarity on Friday, but the deep rooted fault lines of the crises infested federation, won’t just give way.
At a meeting of the Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kids led board, and stakeholders of the slam and dunk game in the country, convened by the National Sports Commission (NSC),
with a view to draw roadmap, and modalities for the upcoming elections; was more or less inconclusive, as the man in the eye of the storm, Engr. Kida, who is also the none-Execitive Chairman of NNPC Limited could not attend, and was said to have traveled out of the country, on an official assignment.
The story was the same, for another board member, and one of the three closest allies of the President, US-based Ugo Udezue – who is also said to have communicated his none availability, through the Secretary General of the NBBF, Amina Amanchi.
Nevertheless, the meeting Chaired by the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and attended by key figures like the President FIBA Africa Zone 3, Retd. Col. Sam Ahmedu; former Captain of D’Tigers of Nigeria, Olumide Oyedeji; and a former Secretary General of the NBBF, Olumide Bamiduro held, and was able to reset the date, for the polls.
Relying heavily on the statutes of the body, the meeting gave the out-going board a maximum of 10 days, to set in motion, modalities for the conduct of the said elections, which must hold on or before the end of March 2026.
As part of the resolutions, the stakeholders agreed that the Congress of the NBBF comprising the Chairmen of the 36 states and that of the FCT, as well as representatives of 8 affiliate bodies, shall convene another meeting with a view to takingover the processes of the polls, in line with the NBBF constitution.
A member of the Congress, and One of the few Association Chairmen who attended the meeting, Pastor Skambo Morrison from Kaduna State, spoke of having grown weary of the back and forth, and hopes all other stakeholders would toe the path of peace, and reconciliation, this time around.
Olumide Oyedeji, one of the two candidates believed to be in the running to take over the Presidency from Engr Kida, also spoke of his being satisfied with the resolutions of the meeting, and urged that the time to put the spot first is now.
A stakeholder of Adamawa State origin, Emmanuel Zika is a long standing allie of Engr. Musa Kida believes the decisions of the meeting would only hold, if individuals lower their egos, and vested interests.
The die is cast, and the window of 10 days, which started on Saturday, for the NBBF Board to for the first time in about a decade, put basketball first, instead of self-serving considerations, will be closely watched.
Remarkably, the Director Media of Mark D’Ball Organization, Mr. Kingsley Aigbonoga who also spoke to the media, was full of praise for the leadership of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for working round the clock, with a view to bringing the basketball family, together, and ensuring that the electoral impasse is amicablly resolved.
In both his presentation during the meeting, and while speaking to the media, moments later, Retd. Col. Ahmedu praised the NSC and NOC, whose President Engr. Habu Gumel and his Secretary General, Tumde Popoola were also in attendance; for upholding the sanctity of the NBBF statutes, and reasserting that the 2nd tenure of the Engr. Kida led board, actually ends on January 31, 2026.
