The South-West zone of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called for the reversal of the sworn-in caretaker nominees by Murtala Nyako- chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT).
The South-West arm of the association who made the call at a press briefing in Lagos recently, say other members of the BOT were not carried along in forming a caretaker committee for the farmers’ group.
Femi Oke, southwest chairman, AFAN and Lagos chapter said that the sworn-in ceremony for the caretaker committee was conducted only by the chairman of the BOT, saying it violates the constitution of the group.
He added that the chairman does not have any constitutional right to singlehandedly dissolve elected members.
“It is the National Electoral Committee (NEC) and the general assembly that can confirm a caretaker committee,” Oke said.
He added that none of the stakeholders were carried along except members that were already expelled and none performing in their various states.
“We, therefore, seized this opportunity to appeal to our BOT chairman to reverse his decision and embrace other BOT members including the stakeholders in AFAN as this will allow us to enjoy the agricultural agenda in this administration,” the southwest chairman said.
He stated that elections for the state levels have been conducted but that of the zonal and national which was supposed to be conducted last year July was shifted owing to the death of a top official of the association.
Also speaking, Tunde Adeyemi, public relations officer -southwest, AFAN said that members of NEC had agreed to conduct the elections for new executives at both the zonal and national levels early in 2020, saying that preparations are already ongoing.
“Among the 36 states, it is only five states that are yet to conduct their state elections and this is where members of the caretaker committees were drawn from,” Adeyemi said.
Abimbola Fatoyinbo Francis, secretary, southwest zone, AFAN said “we oppose the inauguration of the caretaker committee. We were duly elected and we should allow the constitution to guide us in electing new members.”
Kabir Ibrahim, national president of AFAN in a statement addressed to the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, said that the farmers group have been conducting elections from the wards, LGA’s and state chapters across the country since July, 2018.
He stated that the group has exhausted all avenues as provided in its constitution for internal conflict resolution to resolve the issue.
“We have written two letters to the chairman of AFAN BOT seeking audience to enable him hear our side but we are yet to receive a reply,” Ibrahim said.
Josephine Okojie
