Former D’Tigers coach and Comets Basketball Club president Ayodele Bakare has urged Nigerian basketball stakeholders to avoid repeating past administrative mistakes ahead of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board elections.
In a statement released on Thursday, Bakare questioned the sudden prominence of wealthy individuals vying for the NBBF presidency. He warned that short-term financial interventions should not shape the sport for another four years and described the last eight years as the worst period in Nigerian basketball administration.
Bakare alleged a pattern in which wealthy figures with little history in the sport fund tournaments, clinics and prize money before being presented as administrative saviours. He said past promises of personal financial investment had failed to materialise, yielding claims of loans and refunds instead.
The former national team handler acknowledged that financial incentives remain attractive amid economic hardship but pushed voters to weigh long-term stability over temporary gains. He outlined criteria for the next NBBF president, citing grassroots commitment, international experience and a background in sports administration, and also advocated for leadership by former national players who understand the challenges facing young athletes.
Concluding his statement, Bakare warned: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! I remember. Do you?"
