Ateke Tom Bankrolls Rivers PMAN

Rivers State born High life Maestro, King Sunny Brown has expressed gratitude to ex-militant leader, Ateke Tom whom he said has been bankrolling the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) over the years as well as extending financial support to upcoming musicians in the state to record their albums in order to give them a sense of belonging and self actualisation.

The living legend condemned the leadership tussle rocking the Association in the State stressing that the crisis is not only killing the musicians’ Association, but has brought bad-image to the musician themselves . He noted that the power tussle has created various factions among the members as a result, things have fallen apart in the once Prestigious Association.

The highlife King who spoke with The Tide Entertainment recently, disclosed that every member of the association wants to be a leader, while the leaders whose one year tenure had elapsed refused to vacate their offices because of greed and selfish interest.

According to him, instead of moving forward like their counterparts in other states, the association has remained in the limbo over the years.

He disclosed that the incumbent  chairman Peter Stone Cold whose tenure had expired since last year is still in office. He contended that though an electoral committee has been set up to conduct election and swear in new executives, nothing positive has come out of the committee because of vested interest.

King Sunny Brown who is also one of the Elders of PMAN in the State observed that due to the ugly development in the musicians’ body most of the members have left the Association.  He advised that before the election is conducted, efforts should be made by the committee to unite the various factions because there cannot be any credible election where the warring factions  still exist.

He noted that apart from the leadership crisis, the musicians at the various local government areas of the state should be carried along. He maintained that the Association is not PMAN Port Harcourt, but PMAN Rivers State, therefore membership should spread to the 23 local government areas of the state. He called for grassroot mobilisation and participation in the affairs of the body in order to give them a sense of belonging to enable them contribute their quota towards the development of the Association.

The highlife crooner appealed to the state government, corporate organisations and highlife lovers to support his foundation which is aimed at promoting the younger musicians, teach them the various instruments and write their songs among others, in order to ensure quality and continuity in the music industry.

In a related development, the newly constituted leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigerian (PMAN) last week, expelled the former administrator of the Association, Tec Mac Omatshola Itsali and others  for alleged anti union activities. They are Brigadier Brown Bread, Joshua Omktnuale, Orits Williki Arthur Pepple Jnr, Oizz Ikhide, Chris Mba and King-Faladey.

The expulsion was contained in a communiqué dated 19 April 2013, signed by the general secretary of PMAN , Kenny A. George.