The latest FIBA ruling on the leadership crisis in the NBBF will have no effect in the country’s bid to qualify for the World Championship and also take part in the Commonwealth Games… this year. PHOTO: FIBA
• We will cooperate with world body, says Kida
After about eight months of crisis, the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) yesterday called for fresh elections into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
In a letter signed by FIBA Secretary General, Patrick Bauman and addressed to NBBF secretary, Chimezie Asiegbu, Engineer Musa Kida (NBBF president), Tijani Umar (former NBBF president) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), FIBA said the decision became necessary as the June 12 and 13 elections held in Kano and Abuja respectively failed to meet its statutes.
Despite the call for a fresh election, FIBA says “Communication still to be maintained with Engineer Musa Kida, Babatunde Ogunade and Chimezie Asiegbu until such time as the new elections are held as per our letter of 26 July, 2017.” Kida and Ogunade are president and vice president respectively of a faction of the NBFF, which has Asiegbu as secretary general.
Arising from its February 10 meeting held at the FIBA secretariat in Switzerland, the body noted: “In the absence of an amicable solution between the parties, the Executive Committee has decided that new elections shall be held.”
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FIBA, which maintained its earlier stance of not recognizing both elections, pointed out that it would work with relevant stakeholders to amend and develop the NBBF statutes so that such statutes fully comply with all relevant and applicable regulations, primarily the FIBA General Statutes, and guarantee complete independence of the election with no influence from third parties.
“FIBA will determine when the NBBF statutes are compliant per the above and reserves the right to oversee parts or the entirety of the elections process”, the letter stated.
Meanwhile, Engineer Kida has maintained that the NBBF would cooperate with FIBA to come up with acceptable statutes for basketball administration in Nigeria in line with FIBA’s provision.
“Going by the letter received this morning, FIBA was silent about the date for a new election as they unequivocally stated that they will maintain communications with the Musa Kida led board. We as a responsible organization with a passion for basketball development in Nigeria will work closely with FIBA during this critical phase, forging a way forward for basketball in Nigeria.”
He maintained that the continued impasse has affected the expected growth of basketball especially the various national leagues and capacity building programs for coaches and technical officials as he called on all stakeholders to exercise more patience.
“This has dragged on for so long, but we know that this process is necessary if we want to secure the future of basketball and generations unborn.
“We call on all relevant stakeholders to come forward with positive contributions to help the game grow in Nigeria,” Kida stated.
Source: G Sport
