By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Former D’Tigers coach and President of Comets Basketball Club, Ayodele Bakare, has rejected calls for peace and reconciliation following the 2026 Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board elections, insisting that justice and fair play must not be sacrificed for peace.
Bakare, in a statement titled “You Shouldn’t Stop Rape Victims From Seeking Justice, Should You?”, argued that stakeholders seeking accountability over the electoral process should not be condemned or pressured into abandoning their demands for redress.
“Not everybody wants peace at the cost of justice and fair play,” he said, stressing that the pursuit of justice should not be mistaken for opposition to peace.
According to him, while some stakeholders may prefer to avoid confrontation in the interest of peace and convenience, others have the right to challenge what they consider irregularities to prevent such situations from becoming accepted practice.
“If you believe that injustice should be tolerated merely in pursuit of peace or convenience, that’s your prerogative. However, that does not give you the right to vilify or condemn those who think otherwise,” Bakare stated.
He urged those calling for an end to protests and challenges to the election outcome to allow aggrieved stakeholders to pursue their grievances through appropriate channels.
Bakare also cited an ancient Chinese proverb: “Those who say it can’t be done, should not disturb those who are trying to do it!”
The NBBF election produced Dr Mustapha Abdullahi as the federation’s new president, with 40 votes, after other candidates reportedly withdrew from the race.
However, the outcome has generated controversy, with some stakeholders raising concerns about the electoral process and its compliance with the federation’s constitution. The development has sparked competing calls for accountability and reconciliation within Nigerian basketball.
Bakare concluded his statement with the words, “The Oracle has spoken,” reaffirming his position that demands for justice should not be silenced in the name of peace.
