By AUSTIN FAIR, Lagos –
As the debate and confusion over who is presently the authentic President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria [PMAN] rages, a veteran musician and follower of the association’s archives since inception has said that none of the present personnel parading themselves as the leader was legally elected.
As at the last count, about four men and a woman presently lay claim to the position. All of them also operate from different locations since the union has no permanent office. However, while three of them operate from Lagos, the last person can be reached within the federal capital of Abuja.
According to the man, a popular name who wouldn’t want to be mentioned because ‘’I’m red of PMAN’s intractable wars,’’ only the likes of the late Chief [Mrs] Christy Essien Igbokwe, King Sunny Ade, Chief Tony OKoroji, Charly Boy , Mr Femi Lasode, Mr Bolaji Rosiji and Tee Mac were duly elected ended their tenures. ‘’All the others entered through the back [wuruwuru] door and are more of self-acclaimed presidents than anything.
The headquarters of the union, properties and even sensitive documents also exited with the new interlopers who lack substance but whose major interests are the derived from office. You can see that aside from selling off the secretariat, they also vandalized and emptied it.’’
The veteran artiste stated that as far as he was concerned PMAN only exists by name now, suggesting that the only way out; ‘’is to appoint an independent body to revive it first and subsequently organize credible elections. Otherwise, he added, ‘’the union is as good as dead and buried while the impostors continue to feed on its commonwealth. None of them can be called a musician in the real sense but musical dropouts struggling for survival means.’’
He called on anybody who wants to move forward in the music industry to join the Copyright Society of Nigeria [COSON], ‘’at least to have a base and protection.’’ Right now, Messrs Uncle P, Prey Okafor, Ha jia Amina Dangaji and one Dr Okwudili call themselves PMAN president under one disguise or the other.