The protracted leadership
tussle that polarized the Performing Musicians Employees Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State Chapter seems to have ended peacefully with the emergence of vasertile musician, Ibitoru I .B. Green, popularly known as lady IB as the new chairman of the association in the state.
The Bonny, Rivers State born musician was elected at the general election of the association held on Monday October 7th 2013 in Port Harcourt. By her victory, she becomes the second female chairman of the association after the Ekpeye born Nubian queen Gift, Iyumame Uwame popularly called Muma Gee. Who was the first female chairperson, in the state PMAN.
Speaking with The Tide entertainment after the election, lady IB thanked members of the association for their massive turn out and peaceful conduct during the election which was attended by top members of the association such as Mama Rose, Lexy M. Arthur Pepple Jnr. Peter Stone cold, comedians and other top showbiz personalities within and outside the state. She disclosed that at the election, two factions, namely the reformation team and restoration team were billed to participate in the election which was advertised extensively in both the media and internet. However, on the agreed day of the election only few members of the restoration team turned up. Therefore, the members who attended the election saw it as a step down.
According to her, the present executive is made up of herself as chairman, Moses “Big Mozy” Mabadeje, 1st vice chairman, Karibo ‘K.B’ Longjohn, 2nd vice chairman, Allaiye ‘Daddy O’Bobmanuel, publicity secretary, Ezekiel “Ice.T.” Benibo, treasurer and Eke ‘Peples’ Emmanuel Mark provost. Others are Isong ‘Senator’ Sunday, welfare I and Valentine ‘Val’ Amaso welfare 2.
The chairman contended that the new administration is poised to rebrand the association and take it to higher level, to this end she said several programmes have been earmarked to be embarked upon before the end of their one year tenure. They include:- organizing PMAN award night, legends night, partnership with various sectors of the state economy, support the less privileged in the society including families of their departed colleagues as well as promote the welfare of its members and to ensure lasting peace in the association amongst others.
She noted that the special award nights have become necessary because in the past 5 years no such events were held in memory of the departed icons of the music industry in the state such as the late Prince David Bull of the professional seagulls dance band of Port Harcourt, Jack West Omodu of the Garden City Band of Port Harcourt. Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson and Living legend, King Sunny Brown among others.
Commenting on the election a popular musician in the state and former chairman of PMAN Rivers State chapter Mr Lexy Mueka, popularly known as Lexy M stated that Monday October 7, 2013 marked another milestone in the annals of the association in the state as it witnessed the peaceful election and swearing in ceremony of the new executives after a protracted battle of supremacy in the musician body. He described the election as all embracing, peaceful, credible and constitutional.
He stressed that although there were attempts to impose a leader on the association by a factional leadership at the national level, members of the association in the state resisted the move and today we have a new executive of our choice who are duly elected by the members. According to him, the new executives have been tested in the past and accepted for their vision and selfless service to the association.
Lexy M noted that with the new exco the association will no be focus to carry out its constitutional duties in the interest of all. He therefore, called on serious minded members of the association to come back to the fold so as to speak with one voice again instead of pursuing individual self-fish interests to the detriment of the rest members. According to him no individual interest will supersede the collective will and purpose of majority of the members.
