When will Gumel have the courage to stop Mark and Kida’s impunity
The man who should restore order, Habu Gumel continues to keep mum just like he did when there was crisis in athletics and the current crisis in Badminton.
By Olukayode Thomas
Factional presidents of the NBBF Igoche Mark and Musa Kida continue to lay claim to the leadership of basketball of Nigeria despite their illegal elections.
The man who should restore order, Habu Gumel continues to keep mum just like he did when there was crisis in athletics and the current crisis in Badminton.
The ‘president’ of Abuja illegal election Igoche Mark again re-echoed his resolve towards grassroots development of Basketball, a sports while admonishing elderly stakeholders to play advisory roles rather than jostling for NBBF positions with the younger generation.
Mark, spoke at a dinner organized at the weekend for players of Round 1 Group C at the ongoing Mark D Ball Basketball Championship holding at the Package B, MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
The NBBF President took time to eulogise the founder of the defunct Gboko Heat, Philip Akiga over his advisory role the basketball stakeholder is currently playing.
"I have sworn long ago that my goal and target for Basketball in Nigeria is to develop this game from the grassroots, this I am committed to doing. The joy in my heart knows no bounds whenever I see raw talents expressing themselves in the court. When I started Mark Mentors, it was a replica of Gboko Heat, because they were a perfect example for serious minds to emulate. Let me use the opportunity to thank Philip Akiga who I learn a lot from in the past. I also want to thank him for the advisory role he has been playing towards developing this game; and I wish other elderly stakeholders can take after him by playing an advisory role, rather than this tussle for leadership positions." Mark started.
The other illegal president Musa Kida has expressed unbridled confidence in the abilities of Nigerian male and female basketball players to dominate and rule the game.
Speaking with journalists on how the latest FIBA World rankings which placed DTigress in the 14th position would affect the performances of D’Tigress, Kida responded gleefully, stating that the rankings would positively lift the morale of the team and of course, bring more respect for the team.
” The latest rankings by FIBA is a great development and I tell you, it is well deserved, too. It is the cumulative results of serious hard work, buoyed by a genuine passion for the game by the NBBF board in the last four years.
” God has also magnanimously blessed this country with an abundance of talents, who are equally good enough to rule the world in the game,” Kida, who was the winner in the parallel election held in Benin City stated
While admitting that the journey to the top echelon of the game has been rough and tough, he was quick to also state that Nigeria basketball has a conveyor belt that has been seamlessly churning out incredible talents that has continued to give the national teams a remarkable competitive edge at all times.
“In the last five years, we have had over 60 players turning out on different occasions for the country. This tells you that, it is indeed, very competitive and tough to don the jerseys of the national team.
“Beyond the competitive nature of the national teams, I must commend both D’Tigers and D’Tigress for their commitment and passion for the game and that has, of course, given basketball a huge lift in the country,” Kida remarked.
It is shameful that Mark and Kida continue to carry on as if there is no NOC and Ministry of Youths and Social Development.
Could it be true that Gumel has been compromised by the two factional presidents and that is why he could not call them to order or report the two illegal presidents to Anoca, IOC and FIBA?
