TheCable

The leadership crisis in the Nigeria Basketball Federation is far from over as the reconciliation meeting between the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the two factions of the body ended in a deadlock.

The meeting, which was held on Thursday in Abuja, had in attendance the members of the NOC, Musa Kida and Tijjani Umar.

Both parties, after explaining their positions to the body, were given the opportunity to resolve the issue between themselves but they failed to shift ground.

While Kida insisted on holding on to his mandate, Umar said only a fresh election will pave the way for a genuine independence of the association.

The failure to resolve the crisis has forced the NOC to seek for an extension of the deadline issued by FIBA.

Kida failed to speak with journalists after the meeting but Umar, who did, said: “We had a meeting with the NOC and we were given the opportunity to speak privately on the way forward and I explained our position to him and he stated his but to me, we won’t allow manipulation to be the other of the day in the governance of the game of basketball in the country.

“I believe diplomacy is the watchword and as far as we are concerned, there is no recognised leadership of basketball in Nigeria by FIBA.

“I am ready for a fresh election and whoever win, so long it is done according to due process, we will support him.

“If there is another election, FIBA will supervise and NOC will act as observers.

“The game of basketball is bigger than any individual and I know Nigeria will be the winner if the right thing is done.”

Tony Ubani, NOC spokesman, said the committee will still reach out to both parties, consult locally and internationally towards resolving the issue to avoid a possible hammer from FIBA.