South-East Basketball Group Backs Mustapha Abdullahi for NBBF Presidency, Says ‘A Shift Is Long Overdue’

A group of basketball players, officials and enthusiasts in the South-East, under the aegis of Concerned South-East Basketball Forum (CSBF), has thrown its weight behind the candidacy of Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi for the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

The group, in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday, said the October 15 NBBF Special Congress must mark a new chapter for Nigerian basketball, insisting that “a shift is long overdue” in the administration of the federation.

According to CSBF, the realities confronting Nigerian basketball require fresh leadership with the capacity to drive institutional reforms, strengthen grassroots development and prioritise the welfare of players and officials.

The group described Abdullahi, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), as a candidate with the experience and administrative capacity required to reposition the federation.

It identified his youthfulness, track record of administrative competence, grassroots basketball development vision and emphasis on players’ and officials’ welfare as some of the qualities distinguishing his candidacy.

“Given the realities on the ground and the urgent need for transformation, we believe Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi has the requisite capacity to reposition the NBBF and give Nigerian basketball a new direction,” the group said.

CSBF also pointed to what it described as years of factionalisation within the federation, arguing that the next NBBF president must be capable of building bridges and bringing different interests together.

It said Abdullahi’s experience as an institution builder and team player positioned him to facilitate reconciliation among competing groups and promote greater unity within the federation.

“A federation that has experienced divisions over the years needs a leader who can build consensus, reconcile interests and unite stakeholders around the common objective of developing Nigerian basketball,” the statement added.

The group therefore urged delegates from the 36 states to focus on the credentials, record and vision of each candidate ahead of the October 15 election, rather than what it described as sponsored allegations, claims of longevity or personal familiarity.

It called on delegates to place the future of Nigerian basketball above friendship and familiarity, urging them to assess candidates based on their competence, record of performance and capacity to deliver sustainable reforms.

CSBF expressed confidence that the emergence of Abdullahi at the October 15 Congress would provide an opportunity for what it described as the “resuscitation and sustainable transformation” of Nigerian basketball, in line with developments in other basketball-playing nations.

The group said the election should ultimately be about the future of the sport, the welfare of its stakeholders and the establishment of a stronger and more united NBBF.