NBBF led by Kida agrees with the Sports Ministry to shift its elective congress slated for October 30th, in Benin.‘
By Uzor Odigbo
The stone wall has finally crumbled as the immediate past president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida has dropped his radical position on the election initially slated for this Saturday in Benin.
The ministry of sports had earlier postponed the election, but Kida insisted on going ahead, a situation that prompted the sports ministry to terminate the tenure of a caretaker Committee that Kida headed.
According to information gathered from various sources, the resolution to heed the advice was reached on Thursday by the Elective Congress at a Virtual meeting.
The radical shift of position after the Congress rejected the ministry’s earlier directive followed an overture by the Chairman of NBBF Caretaker Committee, Ahmadu Musa Kida, who admonished the Congress to respect and appreciate the advice of the ministry to postpone the Elective Congress in order that all the concerns raised for successful election onto the NBBF Board for the 2021- 2025 Term of Office could be addressed.
A signed Communique issued by the Elective Congress said after thorough deliberations, it had unanimously agreed to postpone the Elective Congress by a few weeks.
The Communique Drafting Committee has as its chairman, Osondu Ngude and Abba Kaka and Opeyemi Babalola as members, while Sunday Donald served as the Secretary.
Among other decisions, Congress mandated the NBBF President to engage the ministry in a positive discussion for a free, fair, transparent and successful election to be held to usher in a new Board.
The Congress, in a vote of confidence passed on the NBBF President, Ahmadu Musa Kida, also authorised him to engage the leadership of the ministry in discussions to address their concerns to ensure a safe and secure Elective Congress as prescribed by the 2019 NBBF approved Constitution.
The Congress thanked the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare and his team for their unflinching support to the NBBF board, led by Kida, which ensured that Nigeria never missed any of its scheduled activities since coming on board, leading to unprecedented strings of achievements and performances in the history of Basketball in Nigeria