The chairman of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) Board of Trustees, Alhaji Abdulfatai Adeniyi, popularly called Dan Kazeem, has called for the postponement of the association’s forthcoming election.
He recently disclosed this to REPORTERS AT LARGE in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
According to him, “Our position is that the election should be put on hold, for now, pending the determination of the following salient issues, which have to do with the progress of our association:”
“Having considered some important issues to be discussed before our next Congress and election, the Oyo, Kwara, Ogun, Osun and Kogi States have resolved not to participate in the FIBAN Congress and national election scheduled to hold on Friday, 13th January 2023.
Dan Kazeem continued, “We should all be on the same page about how many chapters are eligible to participate in this election. This will go a long way in ensuring free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections.”
Furthermore, we demand real-time updates regarding the FIBAN building in Ibadan, which the previous administration, headed by Comrade Yemi Sonde, handed over to Comrade Desmond Nwachukwu. It has been abandoned for 6 years and later withheld by the Oyo State Government.
Dan Kazeem also demands updates on the income and expenditure account of the College of Broadcasting in Abeokuta, which, to the best of our knowledge, is FIBAN property. The chairman of the board of trustees on behalf of FIBAN also needs to see proof of documents relating to loans, grants, terms and conditions with the affiliated institutions, and everything related to COBAB.
This will prevent the same scenario from repeating itself on COBAB after it is handed over to the next elected president, as it did with the Ibadan building.
Dan Kazeem also said that before planning any election, the association should first find a way to reunite all the past presidents and great leaders who have decided not to work with FIBAN again, including readmitting the Lagos State chapter back into the fold.
Finally, the association requests that all rancours occasioned by this coming national election in all FIBAN chapters be settled before a peaceful election.
Dan Kazeem said the association is aware that FIBAN chapters in Osun, Ogun, Abuja, and some other states have serious crises that we need to resolve before any meaningful election can be held.
While thanking them for their leadership prowess and doggedness, which have taken the association FIBAN to this enviable position, I would like to ask them to please accept the assurances of the highest regards, Dan Kazeem said.
The postponement of the FIBAN election is a welcome development, at least, for peace to reign in the association.