NBBF saga: Umar seeks for reconciliation

The Tijani Umar-led Nigeria Basketball Federation has declared its readiness to exploit all avenues for peace and reconciliation in the crisis facing Nigerian basketball.

Umar said in Lagos that his board was ready for peace and reconciliation as advised in the letter written to the two boards by FIBA Africa.

Umar, in a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Patrick Omorodion, said: “We are ready to honour the invitation from the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, that FIBA Africa has appointed as the only body that would ensure reconciliation in Nigerian basketball. We shall submit to all measures that would be  employed by the Olympic Committee towards achieving peace.

“Our interest bothers on the players, officials and the general basketball stakeholders who make a living from basketball. We have resolved in our board meeting to do everything possible to ensure the game is developed in Nigeria both at the local and international levels. For the interest of the game, we shall not send any letter to basketball stakeholders asking them not to work with any group, as the letter sent in by FIBA Africa said specifically that it did not recognize any of the two groups, but will only send correspondence to the Musa Kida group.”