FG Postpones NBBF Board Election Indefinitely

FG Postpones NBBF Board Election Indefinitely

Olawale Ajimotokanin Abuja

The federal government has postponed indefinitely the election to the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). The election was originally scheduled for October 30, 2021 in Benin City, Edo State.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar, announced the postponement yesterday via a statement. The postponement was a culmination of the catalogue of crises rocking the Nigerian basketball fraternity.

Abubakar’s statement also rashly put paid to the preparation by Nigeria Basketball Federation Electoral Committee headed by Dr Lanre Glover, which yesterday announced that the voting for the now suspended election would be done in line with the provisions of the 2019 NBBF statute ratified by FIBA.

In the communication titled: ‘Press Statement on the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Abubakar said the decision was necessary to avert further deterioration of the leadership crisis and towards finding a workable solution to the current disagreements within the basketball federation.

The statement said: “Having reviewed the crisis around the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and in consideration of the several attempts by the supervising Ministry to resolve the lingering crisis and fractionalization in the basketball family, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) hereby directs an indefinite suspension of the NBBF Elective Congress scheduled for 30 October, 2021in Benin City. All concerned Stakeholders are expected to take note and comply.

“This decision is necessary to avert further deterioration of the leadership crisis and towards finding a workable solution to the current disagreements within the Federation. The rancour-free development of basketball in Nigeria is of utmost importance.

“The recent elections into the NBBF Board from the various constituencies (i.e Zones, NAWIS, Military/Paramilitary, NAPHER.SD, etc) stand and those elected therefrom remain members-elect.”

The latest move by the ministry followed the massive protest in Abuja by basketball players, voicing their opposition to the reelection of the former NBBF President Musa Kida and the threat making the rounds on social media platforms by the National women basketball team, D’Tigress, that they would dishonour future national duties on account of disputes with the Kida led board over unpaid allowances, bonuses and training grants.

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