_…Sets October 15, Date for Elections_
By Chinedum Ohanusi
Finally, basketball’s world governing body (FIBA) during the week, responded to the concerns of basketball stakeholders, many of whom earned their places in the 48-man Congress of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The stakeholders, had written a well articulated petition, anchored on the statutes of the NBBF, which is in the domain of both global regulatory body, and FIBA Africa. The petition addresses three major concerns.
That the tenure of the Engr. Musa Kida led board, which began on January 31, 2022 has expired.
(2). That at the instance of the National Sports Commission (NSC), and Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) and stakeholders met in Abuja, and reached a resolution to compel the NBBF board to begin the processes that will culminate in the election of a new board, in line with the statutes of the body.
(3). Finally, that should the leadership of the outgoing board fail to ignite the processes for the election of a new board, on or before March 31, 2026 the global body, should empower the NSC leadership, to drive the processes for the election of a new board, in full compliance with the current NBBF constitution.
The stakeholders, expected a lot from FIBA, but when a letter conveying the decisions reached all concerned after two months, some stakeholders felt hard done because of their expectations of an imminent end to the tenure of Engr. Kida and his board, was dashed, as one of the global body’s decisions gave the Kida leadership a soft landing.
In their letter, written on March 16, addressed to the President of the NBBF Engr. Kida, FIBA inexplicably granted that the board should remain in office, until October!
FIBA also ruled that a new board, must be in place, on or before October 16, 2026; and the electioneering processes have to be in strict compliance with the current NBBF statutes, meaning no amendments, would be allowed.
The said FIBA letter which has gone viral delivered one cheering news as one of the stakeholders put it, “Kida was granted tenure elongation, until October, but any plan to activate a third term bid has been buried”.
Upon receiving the same letter, the already established fault lines in the NBBF family, resurfaced, and held firm. While the Kida group and their allies in the media celebrated an improbable victory, the stakeholders who had cried to FIBA and were looking forward to an end of the Board to pave way for a new beginning, have now accepted the fact that Nigeria can only have a new NBBF Board on October 16th, 2026.
But should the NSC, with a full-fledged legal directorate, have to rely on FIBA to give a honest and proper interpretation, to the issue of expiration of the tenure of the NBBF board, as raised by the stakeholders? Did FIBA need to take as much as two months, to reach a decision as pedestal as this?
My honest response to all of the three questions above, are a capital NO, for each. But it is of essence we commend the NSC leadership, in all of these brouhaha.
First, it was the DG of the commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade that took initiative and waded into the lock jam, when it became clear there was lack of clarity regarding the end date of the NBBF Board.
The NSC also acted in good faith, knowing that their hands were tied, and any overreach, in meddling with the squabbles in the NBBF, could earn Nigeria the wrath of FIBA, and may trigger fresh constitutional and leadership crises, in a highly volatile federation, especially at every election circle.
It is therefore heartwarming that the stakeholders, have largely heeded the call by the NSC for them to put the sport first, and above selfish interests. Like suppressed truth, it may suffer for a while, but shall ultimately overcome.
Regrettably, Kida appears to be the only one, unwilling to heed the call of the NSC on basketball stakeholders, to put the game first. Having had his ploy to seek an unprecedented 3rd term in office quashed, we hear he has ordered the removal of members of the NBBF he considered pulling in a different directions. Hopefully, he will be called, and reminded of the need to put the game first, and refrain from plunging it into fresh wahalla.
