•As Ara emerges Lagos chairperson
By Tosin Ajirire
This year’s National Convention of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has come and gone, but the story of how the outgoing president, Pretty Okafor staged a comeback for another term of four years will continue to resonate for a long time.
With the theme: ‘Ensuring an Inclusive PMAN National Election Process’, the delegates conference took place on Tuesday October 24 at the union’s corporate office, Nigerian Music House, Lekki, Lagos.
Amidst what could be dubbed a ‘mild drama’, Okafor was returned unopposed by the delegates from the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory during the election that held at the convention. With a total of 50 votes, he was announced the winner by the electoral chairman.
Prior to the election, however, Pretty Okafor had indicated his intention not to re-contest for the post of PMAN president. But he later succumbed to pressure from the state chapters’ chairmen who purchased a form for him and insisted he must run for another term.
In his words: “Actually, I didn’t want to re-contest as PMAN President but I changed my mind when some state chapters, five of them, purchased a form for me and insisted I must run for another term. The whole thing became an issue when I resisted the pressure to run, and more so when the General Secretary told them that I have since submitted documents that I was not going to re-contest.
The reason for this is that my personal business is growing and I need time to pay more attention to it. But when I found out that members were almost fighting each other to make me re-contest, I decided to put my personal business aside, believing that the interest of PMAN is greater than my personal interest.”
The Sun had observed how Pretty Okafor was practically dragged into the hall by some teary-eyed state chapters chairmen who refused to sit down until he announced his decision to re-contest.
Speaking on why members of the association wanted him back as president, Okafor stated: “There was no contest in the real sense of it as my return was more of an adoption than an election. I think the reason they decided to bring me back as PMAN president was because of my achievements over the years. They were all surprised that nothing like this has ever happened in PMAN. For PMAN to have a solid structure, radio station and other businesses like hotels was a big surprise to them. So, it was hard for them to let me go.”
Other elected members of the PMAN National Executive Committee were Sunny Neji (1st Vice President), Zaaki Azzay (2nd Vice President), Baba J.F.O (Treasurer), Michael ‘Ruggedman’ Stevens (Chairman, Media Committee/Ex officio), Boniface Itodo aka Aitabonny (General Secretary), and Fada Bem Paul aka Bempee (Assistant General Secretary).
Just before the conference, foremost female drummer, Aralola Sherifat Olamuyiwa popularly known as Ara, was appointed as the Governor of Lagos State chapter of PMAN.
While presenting Ara with the certificate of appointment, Okafor said her choice to lead the Lagos State chapter of PMAN was informed by her work ethic and appeal to the cross-generational demography of artistes.
In her remarks, Ara said her focus would be to make the state become more vibrant, while creating awareness on the significance of PMAN to the Gen Z generation and every other artiste yet to join the association.