Basketball Stakeholders Disenfranchised Ahead Of Federation Polls –Mark

A leading basketball stakeholder and founder of the Mark D’ Ball Basketball Championship, Mr. Igoche Mark, has raised alarm over what he described as massive disenfranchisement of genuine basketball stakeholders across the country ahead of the Nigeria Basketball Federation elections.

Mark, who spoke in Abuja on the state of basketball in Nigeria, said the process is being manipulated by some interests who are removing legitimate stakeholders and replacing them with persons who have no connection with the game.

“If we want to do election, let’s do election and if we don’t want to do election, let’s go for selection,” Mark said.

According to him, many stakeholders are unhappy because they are being removed overnight without due process simply because elections are around the corner.

“I can tell you for a fact that a lot of Nigeria basketball stakeholders are disenfranchised, because they are just being removed overnight for no reason or just cause without following the due process because the election is around the corner. They are disenfranchised and they are not happy about the situation,” he said.

Mark said the practice is now widespread across the states, where people perceived as not willing to vote for certain interests are being replaced.

“This is happening all around the states, people they feel cannot vote for them, rather than appeal to them by giving reasons why they should vote for you as the right person for the job, instead, they chose the shortcut of changing them with people who are not into sports or know nothing about the sport, basketball, just because you want them to vote for you,” he alleged.

He further alleged political interference and inducement using public office, citing his own experience.

“A call came from my Deputy Governor to the Director of Sports asking for my name and that of Col. Sam Ahmedu to be changed, just because a certain top government official who requested for that to happen, and in turn electrify 3 villages in my state” Mark alleged.

Mark called on the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympic Committee to intervene and ensure a level playing field for all, warning that basketball in Nigeria will continue to suffer if credible elections are not conducted.