Former D'Tigers head coach and Comets Basketball Club president Ayodele Bakare has challenged calls for reconciliation following the 2026 Nigeria Basketball Federation board elections, arguing that justice and fair play must not be sacrificed in the interest of peace. He said stakeholders who believe they have been unfairly treated should be allowed to seek redress without facing condemnation.
In a statement titled "You Shouldn't Stop Rape Victims From Seeking Justice, Should You?", Bakare declared: "Not everybody wants peace at the cost of justice and fair play." He added that those who disagree with aggrieved stakeholders "should not resort to vilifying or condemning them" and urged advocates of an end to protests to let dissatisfied parties pursue their grievances through the appropriate channels.
Bakare reinforced his position with an ancient Chinese proverb: "Those who say it can't be done, should not disturb those who are trying to do it!" His intervention comes amid continuing discussion over the 2026 NBBF board elections, which produced Dr Mustapha Abdullahi as federation president after he secured 40 votes when other candidates reportedly withdrew.
Questions about the conduct of the vote and its compliance with the NBBF constitution have generated competing calls for accountability, reconciliation and institutional stability as Nigerian basketball moves forward under new leadership. Bakare's comments reflect the argument that reconciliation must not prevent legitimate grievances from being examined. He concluded his statement with the declaration, "The Oracle has spoken."
