The warring factions of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) have finally agreed to give peace chance as the body’s peace initiative during the week unveiled a 45-man committee, charged with interim administration of the union.
Announcing the decision at the popular Ojez Entertainment Center, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, foremost musician and Public Relations Officer of the PMAN Peace Initiative, Orits Wiliki noted that the committee has been structured to accommodate representatives of all the music genres in PMAN, the warring parties and members of the media among others.
Wiliki and Joseph
“Today’s gathering is to intimate our colleagues, our friends, the media and members of the public that the leadership crisis which engulfed the performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN for a period not less than seven years has been resolved,” Wiliki noted.
True to the spirit of reconciliation, two of the three members of the union; Dr. Tee Mac Iseli and Predy Wise, who are laying claims to PMAN presidency were present at the historic event. But the third person, Ras Murphy Van Anthony, was conspicuously at the occasion.
Tee Mac allayed the fears by many when he said he will not run for Union presidency again. The artiste, who nominated himself into the interim committee, noted that there was need to review the constitution of the union.
Describing it as weak, Tee Mac said the current PMAN constitution gives so much power to the president. He said the position of president of the union should not be a ‘do or die’ affair, because it is a call to service that requires so much responsibility from the leaders, including spending their personal money.
Judging from the number of musical artistes at the Ojez meeting, it could be said that that the leadership crisis which has for about seven years, engulfed the musician’s union, is gradually receiving a leeway.
Other artistes at the conference included: King Faladey, Brigadier Brown Bread, Desmond Effiong, Stella Monye, Chris Mba, Joshue Omokhuale, Richard Cole, and Azeezat Allen.
The resolve to harmonise the activities of the union, reconcile members and have an interim administration that will conduct fresh elections started nine months ago. The move is being championed by Chris Mba and others who constitute the Peace Initiative Committee.
Wiliki, who expressed how bad the crisis in the union had gone, recalled that apart from the principal warring parties, another faction, acting under Oizz Ikhide also perfected the relocation of the Union’s Headquarters to Ariya at Jibowu, without recourse to the constitution of PMAN.
