A renowned poet and presidential candidate of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Ahmed Maiwada has called on Nigerian writers to stop any move by the present leadership of the association to install a stooge during its forthcoming National Convention in Enugu.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Denja Abdullahi is the President of ANA while Camillus Ukah is his deputy and they are in the last lap of their second tenure.
Speaking with DAILY NIGERIAN in Abuja recently, Mr Maiwada lamented how the association was being led by a sole administrator as a president who does things according to his whims and caprices, without recourse to the association’s constitution.
Mr Maiwada alleged that there was a constitutional breach in selecting the association’s chapter to host the forthcoming convention, saying that the choice of Enugu State as the host was to give undue advantage to his deputy who is also contesting for the seat.
He said: “The constitution says that where there are more than one bids for the hosting of the convention, it is the congress that would decide who takes or wins the bid.
“I was there in Lagos during the last convention of ANA when Enugu and Benin chapters contested for the right to host the convention.
“The congress decided that since these two states were the only chapters that came forward, the only state that would get its nod to host the convention should be the first chapter that would present evidence of at least N15m in their account.
“However, when the president decided that it should be Enugu, rather than Benin, there was no mention of the fact that this condition was met. So, neither the constitution nor the congress’ decision was followed.
“I believe that the choice of Enugu was to give undue advantage to his deputy who is also contesting for the seat. I also believe he is doing so to extend his tenure. I am sure Nigerian writers will not allow that to happen,” Mr Maiwada stated.
“I will not sit down and allow someone who is constituting himself as a bull in a China shop to decide everything for ANA. We are too intelligent for that. We are too sophisticated for that.
“Even the Nigerian government has opposed tenure elongation by Presidents in the past. I will be surprised to see ANA members seating down and allowing this person to achieve his aim. I will lead in that resistance, whether from within or behind,” Mr Maiwada stressed.
When DAILY NIGERIAN contacted the president of the association for comment, he refused to speak on the allegations.
He, however, threatened to take legal action against this newspaper.
