SPORTS minister Sunday Dare has inaugurated the Reconciliatory Committee set up to resolve the crisis that has torn Nigerian basketball apart for years.
Basketball in Nigeria has been riddled with bitter bickerings and leadership tussles for a few years, hampering the progress of the sport.
Dare, while inaugurating the committee virtually on Friday, tasked the members to tackle the crisis and hit the ground running.”There can be no development without unity.
The basketball family must be kept united for the game to grow and develop in our country,” the minister said.”We can no longer fold our arms and act unconcerned as the crises seep into public space and things go awry.”
The sports minister also reiterated that the Federal Government is the legitimate owner of all the basketball national teams and the responsibility for the development of the game is vested in his ministry.
He added that Nigeria will be involved in two important assignments later this month: the FIBA World Cup qualifiers for D’Tigers and the Basketball Africa League for the champions of the men’s domestic league.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, charged the committee to justify the confidence reposed in them and work hard to ensure harmony returns to the basketball family.
Abubakar told the committee to draw up recommendations that will calm frayed nerves and redirect attention to the strengthening of the game in Nigeria.
Responding to the minister and the Permanent Secretary, the chairman of the Reconciliatory Committee, Seyilayo Ojo, promised that the committee will carry out their assignment with integrity and patriotism.
He said their allegiance will be to the country and its constitution, assuring they will be focused on the issues and not on persons.
“The committee will work towards producing a document and putting together recommendations that will help not just basketball but other sports that may be in dispute,” said Ojo, a conflict resolution expert.
The Reconciliatory Committee has a two-week mandate but it could be extended if there are justifiable reasons for it.
The other members of the committee are Abba Abdullahi Yola (vice-chairman), Babs Ogunade, Khaleeh Muktar, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Niyi Alebiosu and Dr Toyin Aluko (secretary).
