Babatunde Ogunade, the Vice-President of the Musa Kida-led faction of Nigeria Basketball Federation, says justice should guide mediators and other stakeholders in resolving the federation’s leadership crisis.
Ogunade told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja that there was the need to intervene in fairness.
He said: “This is because the two sides involved in the tussle are made up of stakeholders in Nigerian basketball, hence the need to intervene in fairness.
“We (the Kida group) contested and won during the June 13 federations elections, in line with the laid-down guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development and FIBA.
“Our election was observed and recognised by the Ministry and Nigeria Olympic Committee, but the previous board (led by Tijani Umar) which did not participate in the exercise is still laying claim to the federation’s leadership.
“The Tijani Umar-led board which served for eight years of two terms is still laying claim to the board.
“They organised a parallel election ahead of the Federal Government-fixed date without picking the form to contest the election organised by the ministry.
“They never approached the Appeals Committee established to resolve complaints on the election. I think they (the other faction) should be asked on which ground they are protesting against the election.”
Speaking on the contents of FIBA’s letter on resolving the crisis, Ogunade said: “The letter says FIBA will communicate with the Kida-led board till the November 30 deadline”.
He added: “This means we have to carry on with the running of the federation, at least till then.
“But the previous board have refused to give us a handing-over note to carry out our responsibilities for the period.
“However, we thank God for the achievements we have had within the space of four months.
“I have said all these for the public to be better informed on the goings-on in NBBF ahead of FIBA’s deadline of November 30.
“We have been communicating with FIBA on these developments while we have been cooperating with NOC on FIBA’s directive that it should find amicable solution to the crisis.”
Ogunade said the Kida-led board would be accountable to all stakeholders in the country’s basketball sector.
However, his counterpart in the Umar-led federation, Olumide Oyedeji said the all those involved should be reminded that Nigeria was bigger than they are.
He said they should not be standing their ground to the detriment of basketball in the country.
Oyedeji said: “Nigeria is bigger than the two, three or four persons who are standing their ground from the two factions of NBBF.
“Their grandstanding shows that the two sides are not having the love of the country at heart. Both sides should shift ground for the love of the game and the country.
“FIBA has issued a deadline which is fast approaching, and the tussle is long overdue for amicable resolution. There is problem and they are acting as if there is none.”
NAN reports that Umar had said last week that he and his other board members were ready for a fresh election if the other option for resolution failed.
The Umar-led board had declared before the June 13 elections in Abuja its members and other delegates would not participate in the Ministry-organised election.
It had said it would organise a separate election that would be independent of government interference, saying this was in line with FIBA’s directive to member-federations.
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