By
Onwuzurike Donald Ejike
 | |||
| Mr. Adeyemi Adebiyi, new Chairman of ANA Lagos |
The Association of Nigerian
Authors (ANA) Lagos chapter in preparation for 2017 ANA International Convention
slated for October 26th to 29th which will be holding at
Makurdi Benue State, held its elections on Saturday 12 August, to usher in a new
set of executive members who took over the mantle of leadership of the chapter
from Mr. Amos Femi Onileagbon whose four years in office as chairman, ended on
the election day.
Among other events and activities
in the programme of the day, it was the election that made the most impressive
impact on all members who attended. The number of members who were present at the
reading was impressive unlike other normal days of reading. Before the elections
day, the monthly meetings had never witnessed such turnout.
Tempers however flared when
the outgoing chairman raised a constitutional dust about one of the Association’s
rules, when he stood his ground that the two delegates from the national
executive council who incidentally are also members of ANA Lagos chapter, in
the persons of Mr. Toafeek Olatubosun Joseph, national P.R.O. South, and Mr. Adewusi
Komolafe, a national ex-officio member who came with the intension to conduct
the election, should only be given the privilege to just act as observers. Femi
said the congress should rather appoint an electoral officer who will choose
some members to conduct the election as electoral team.
After an interval of
argument about the constitutionality of his claim concerning the national executive
members to act as observers, which he could not substantiate due to lack of a
copy of the Association’s constitution, the congress merely allowed sleeping
dogs to lie, to make sure the election was held. Hence, the duo humbly acted as
observers.
The motion for the dissolution
of the former executive team was moved by Mr. Onwuzurike Donald Ejike and
seconded by Mr. Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon. Mr. Folu Agoi, an erstwhile chairman
of the chapter appointed Hon. Feyi-Abiodun Oyeniyi as the Electoral team
chairman and was assisted by Olusanya Anjorin to form a two-man electoral team.
However, two members
contested for the chapter’s chairmanship position, namely- Mr. Olu Okekanye, an
immediate past vice chairman, and Mr. Yemi Adebiyi, a former Secretary. Both of
them had served in the previous executive council that had just elapsed.
Out of twenty-three ballot
papers that were certified by the electoral team before the election commenced, Okekanye had two votes, while one ballot paper was voided, and Adebiyi won with a landslide of nineteen votes at the end of the proceedings.
He won perhaps, because of his
pre-election speech through which he pointed that, “With my zeal to resuscitate
the dwindling fortunes of ANA Lagos, I won the chapter’s secretary position
during the past tenure when I was 60years. Now, after two years I am presenting
myself to occupy the position of Chairman in order to infuse more energy to
attract younger writers into the chapter.”
Other newly elected members
of the current executive includes, Mr. Ayo Vaughan Babatunde as Vice Chairman; Ms.
Nwafor Brenda as Secretary; Ms. Abigail Ohioro as Financial Secretary; Ms.
Davies Lynda as Treasurer; and Ms. Irabor Margret as P.R.O.
While thanking the congress
on behalf of his newly elected team, Adebiyi who is an author of several
novels, said “I am going to work assiduously to bring back the lost glory of ANA
Lagos chapter and replace its image on its usual elevated position. My tenure
will by God’s grace be a new dawn for all members.”
END
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