NBBF
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, May 31, 2018 (NAN) The Musa Kida-led faction of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on Thursday described the death of Dolphins Women’s Basketball Club Chairman Wale Aboderin as incomprehensible.
Afolabi Oni, the faction’s spokesman, said in a statement that Aboderin died on Wednesday at the age of 60 after a heart surgery.
“The board on Thursday paid a condolence visit to the deceased family after the sad news filtered into town on Wednesday evening, which left many people sad.
“The NBBF president, Musa Kida while reacting to the news, described Aboderin’s death as one that human minds could not easily comprehend.
“For a man who was so full of life and energy to just be reported dead will forever remain a mystery.
‘“His investment in basketball was unparalleled and the vacuum he left will be impossible to fill,” he quoted Kida as saying.
Oni said further that Kida added that, as a devoted Muslim, he would take solace in the fact that death was inevitable for every living soul.
“I pray that the soul of the departed will be granted eternal rest, and the family, friends and business associates he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.
“I will urge us all to take solace in the supremacy of God over the affairs of mortals while we live here on earth.
“I am a bit lifted with the comments of people since he died which showed the exemplary life he lived,’’ Kida said.
Oni further disclosed that the NBBF Vice President, Babatunde Ogunade, on his part described the deceased as a true gentleman with a genuine passion for basketball and philanthropy.
“The news of Aboderin’s demise came as a very rude shock, because he was one of the very few who stood up to be counted in the development of basketball.
“He did at a great cost to himself. His unflinching interest and support for female basketball was infectious. He was always willing to help.
“He was with the female national team at Mali 2017, where we qualified for the World Cup in Spain,’’ Ogunade said.
Ogunade who took over from Aboderin as the Chairman of Lagos State Basketball Association said the association and the NBBF would miss his support.
Also, Oni disclosed that Samuel Ahmedu who represented the board during the visit to the family of late Punch Newspapers Chairmanas expressed deep shock at the death.
“He came, he lived, he touched lives, but left unannounced. We cannot question God, even though we are confused right now.
“But we take solace in the life you lived and the examples you showed to us. To live in the heart of those we love is not to die,” Ahmedu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a condolence register has since been opened at the NBBF secretariat at the National Stadium in Lagos.(NAN)
BAY/AO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)