Kida, Glover pronouncements may trigger fresh NBBF crisis

Election into the board of NBBF slated for January 31, 2022, may trigger a fresh crisis similar to the 2017 crisis where the Tijani Umar board held an elective congress in Kano, Kano State and another election was held in Abuja which produced Musa Kida as President.

Statements issued by erstwhile President of NBBF Kida and Lanre Glover whom Kida appointed as chairman of the now-dissolved electoral committee on Monday indicate that Kida will organize an election in Benin, Edo State on January 31, 2022, and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports will also organize another election in Abuja.

Though Kida’s tenure as President of NBBF ended shortly before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and was only appointed Chairman of Caretaker Committee to take the men and women basketball to the Olympics, he still continues to parade himself as President of NBBF.

The statement issued on Monday mandated Glover’s electoral committee to resume with immediate effect.

Kida said it was pertinent for the committee to complete the electoral process started after the electoral process was put on hold to allow the Reconciliatory Committee to carry out its mandate.

"I have exercised the powers bestowed on me by the NBBF Congress to activate the Electoral Committee to complete their assignment of conducting the NBBF Elective Congress, which will be in line with the 2019 approved NBBF Constitution, and according to their guidelines".

The statement advised all interested candidates vying for the vacant posts of President, Vice President and Zonal Representatives into the North-central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South, and South-West zones are to contact the electoral committee.

While the Federal of Youths and Sports should be blamed for its lackadaisical attitude especially for not making public the report of the reconciliation committee but elders like Glover who ought to be at the forefront of resolving the crisis are part of the crisis by backing Kida’s call for an election in Benin. 

Meanwhile, Chairmen of states in the South-East zone of Nigeria under the aegis of Basketball Stakeholders from the South East have maintained that the city of Benin, Edo state, remains the perfect and constitutional choice for the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation elective congress.

The group's spokesperson, Osondu Ngude announced that they arrived at the unanimous decision because all the South-East states were present at the NBBF Congress of 9th October 2021 alongside 32 other states where the decision to hold the Congress in Benin was taken.

"The power of Congress is final in this matter and furthermore, it is unbecoming for the Secretary-General who was also present at the Congress of 9th October 2021, to turn around and choose another venue arbitrarily without consulting with the NBBF and members of Congress".