By Chinedum Ohanusi
Basketball Stakeholders in the country, will again beam their eyes on the National Sports Commission (NSC) from today; for clearer direction on the path, already cut out for them, leading to the election of a new board for their troubled federation, the NBBF.
Yesterday, was the tenth and final day, granted the Engr. Musa Ahmadu Kida-led Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to meet, deliberate, and come-up with a schedule, with specific timelines; and in strict compliance with the revised statutes of the body, domiciled at the headquarters of its global governing body FIBA, and FIBA Africa.
The ultimatum has come and gone with no board meeting called, and no meeting whatsoever, held.
Asked what the lacuna potends, some of the stakeholders that attended the meeting in Abuja, unequivocally told me, that the ball is back at the court of the NSC, whose Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade has been widely praised for initiating, and driving the latest attmpt, to once and for all end the power tussles that has undermined the domestic component, of the nation’s basketball for about a decade now.
The NSC DG, together with the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), presided over the stakeholder meeting in Abuja, during which it was agreed that:
“In event the NBBF board fails to act on the resolutions, the NBBF Congress, made up of Chairmen of the 36 States and that of the FCT, and 8 affiliate bodies, shall takeover the processes, for an elective congress, to be held not later than March 31, 2025”.
It was also made crystal clear, that the tenure of the outgoing NBBF Board shall expire on January 31, 2026; having been duly elected and sworn in on January 31, 2022 in Benin City.
Engr. Kida was said to be out of the country, on official duty, on the day of the meeting, but his 1st Vice President, Babs Ogunade was in attendance, and made presentations, along with the President FIBA Zone 3, Retd. Col. Sam Ahmedu; before the resolutions were reached. References were also made to at least two former scribes of the federation, and the current SG, Amina Amanchi.
Be it as it may, it is unclear as to why the board was unable to meet, during the ten-day period of grace, and we cannot at this point, tell if the board has sought for an extension of time.
Either way, the picture and date for the NBBF delayed polls, should become clearer, in the next few days; but the beautiful bride being watched by all the stakeholders is the NSC DG, Hon. Olopade.
