NAN-S-17
Badminton
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
June 14, 2017 (NAN) Francis Orbih, the President-elect of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) on Wednesday expressed joy over his victory at the June 13 sports federation polls held in Abuja.
Orbih, the former Vice-President replaces Justice Danlami Senchen as the new president of the federation, having defeated Prof. Faruq with 31 votes to 19.
Orbih, the Lagos State Association Chairman, under whose tenure Lagos held two international classics that drew prominent players from 26 countries of the world, hopes to do the same at the national level.
An elated Orbih told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that he was happy about the victory and now urged the support of stakeholders for the federation.
“Sincerely I am happy it went down well, there was no rancour, it was a free and fair election and at the BFN, we remain as one big family together pursuing the same objective.
“I look forward with great optimism and with my background over the years, I believe I can deliver but with the support of everybody I know the future is very bright,’’ Orbih said.
The incoming president also added that he will get down working as soon as the inauguration has taken place and presenting his programme.
“What we are all awaiting now is the swearing-in ceremony, before that we must have done some preparations on the work to be achieved over the years to come.
“This will definitely be with the inclusion of everybody that can contribute to the development of the sport and our youths in totality in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, as inauguration day approaches, the Nigeria Basketball Federation continues to be in a limbo as two elections were held in Kano and Abuja declaring two presidents and two different board members.
Orbih said that it was rather unfortunate for such a thing to emanate from the basketball family and called all factions to find a quick and peaceful solution to the problems.
“This is not how things should be, sincerely I am surprised about the development in the basketball family, I hope they can come together and resolve the issue on time,’’ Orbih said.
NAN reports that the Tijjani Ummar/Olumide Oyedji board versus the Musa Kida/Babs Ogunade board has both claimed to be the incoming leadership of the soon to be inaugurated board.
Patrick Omorodion, the NBBF outgoing press secretary, said in a statement on Wednesday that the newly elected NBBF Board under the leadership of Tijjani Umar had followed due process in the elections.
It said that due process was followed to the letter in conducting its affairs, including the election of 12 June, 2017.
“The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) is in custody of the NBBF ratified Constitution and the election rules and regulation which the NOC made input into for the conduct of the election.
“Let it be known to all therefore that the NOC was fully aware and briefed on the intention of the NBBF to conduct its election according to its constitution.
“This constitution is the best practice around the world,’’ the statement said.
The statement added that “the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was consulted and it made input into the constitution of the federation.
“This was before it was adopted and ratified by the Congress of the NBBF Annual General Meeting on 30 January, 2017.
“The Constitution is superior to any document guiding the NBBF in the conduct of its affairs.
“These articles are clear provisions empowering the federation to conduct its election and stipulating the composition of the board of the federation.
“The Board as it is composed in the constitution is the most broad-based, covering the basketball technical bodies, players’ representative, women’s representative and members of international bodies.
“It also has one representative each from the six geo-political zones elected by their state chairmen.’’
The statement also said that having followed the provisions of its constitution and took away basketball from the highest bidder in the through the election.
“ The new basketball board will not waste any precious time arguing with anyone trying to justify the legality or otherwise of the election in Kano or Abuja’’.
“It is a fact known to all that the Secretary-General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, who is aware of all the facts has truly betrayed the NOC family in Nigeria.
“In pursuing an agenda that is not acceptable to the rest of the NOC Executive Board, the true leaders of the federation are known,’’ the statement said.
It said that amid the circumstance, the newly elected NBBF Board led by Tijjani Umar and Olumide Oyedeji had forwarded their names to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
“It is our utmost duty to follow due process and the best way of doing things if we profess to love our game and country.
“It should never be difficult for any stakeholder to do or recognize what is right.
“It is on record that the Abuja elections of June 13 were characterised by intrigues, irregularities, mischief and outright confusion and Nigeria does not deserve this.
“The NBBF will not contribute to this way of doing things and therefore appeals to the media to also exercise great caution in publicising only positive stories that make Nigeria look good,’’ the statement said.
Regardless of the scenarios in the basketball family, the sports federation elections will go down as the most successful in recent times as other 25 federations have declared the winners of the elections. (NAN)
BAO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)