As the gladiators in the silent war rocking the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) locked horns over the legality or constitutionality of Thursday’s extraordinary Congress of the Federation slated for Abuja, Chief Tonobok Okowa-led board has been urged to put their house in order or ready to leave.
The chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association (GSAA), Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, gave the advice while reacting to a letter by the AFN Ist vice president, Tafida Gadzama, that the proposed extraordinary congress was a violation of article 10.1.7 of the AFN constitution (2023 as amended) which stipulates 15 working days notice to be given for an ‘Extraordinary Congress’ to hold.
According to Gara, Gadzama’s letter was in order since it wants to establish whether the extraordinary congress was legally summoned or not.
“Gadzama’s letter is a very strong one because no organisation without laws guiding its operations, but I don’t know which of the constitutions AFN’s secretariat is using now.
“I have not seen the clean copy of the amended statute, four months after the amendment. Both the old and new constitutions stipulate how to summon a congress but we don’t know which one is in operation.
“But instead of staying away, we should attend the emergency congress to ask questions and if the right answers are not given, then we can leave,” he said.
Gara noted the AFN’s board under the leadership of Okowa is splitted into three and called for unity among them. “The board is currently divided into three – they are those who stay on the fence and watch, those who are benefiting, and those who are disguntle. But Nigeria is the one losing and they should unite in the interest of the country or we will force them to leave,” Gara warned.
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