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 State Basketball Associations Chairmen comprising Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia States rising from a meeting held over the weekend in Ebonyi state said the decision of the General Congress in picking Benin remains sacrosanct as enshrined in the 2018 NBBF constitution.
Going by the constitutional provisions, only the congress called by the NBBF President (in this case, Engr Musa Kida), to be held in Benin, Edo State, on 31st January, 2022, in accordance with the provisions of the 2019 NBBF Constitution is valid.
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”.
“We need to remind the Secretary of the damages she has caused the Federation since she began her subtle moves of trying to impose a candidate on Basketball Stakeholders as a preferred candidate by the powers that be, which is false”
“It is clear that no candidate has been ordained as such and only the Congress will decide the outcome of the elections at all times”, Osondu continued
They reminded her of her ignoble role in hijacking the NBBF responsibilities including her role in the saga which has put the country at risk of losing out of the second edition of the money spinning Basketball African League due to disqualification.
“She ill-advised the FMY&SD to take over the role of NBBF in organizing the Final 8, which is clearly in violation of the FIBA Statutes. Despite FIBA’s position which has been stated expressly in writing, she is towing the same part in advising the Sports Ministry to override the NBBF Congress in picking in Abuja instead of Benin”.
