.FORMER PRESIDENT PAUL OBAZELE DECLINES TO SERVE ON CARETAKER COMMITTEE
.ANOTHER FORMER PRESIDENT, MADU CHIKWENDU SAYS BOT DECISION, ILLEGAL
Two former Presidents of the Association of Movie Producers, AMP, Messrs Paul Obazele and Madu Chikwendu have rubbished the decision of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the body to annul the election which returned AMAA boss as the new president on August 29th.a
The AMP BoT had on Monday, annulled the parallel elections held in Asaba, Delta State and Surulere Lagos on August 29th. While Myke Parish Ajaere was elected in Lagos, Peace Anyiam Osigwe was returned President in Asaba.
The BoT had faulted the elections saying they fell short of the standard of the body. It had gone further to annul the elections and constitute a 6-man Caretaker Committee led by top actor and producer, Chief Emeka Ossai.
But on Tuesday, AMP former President Mr. Paul Obazele, who was named by the BoT as a member of the Emeka Ossai-led Caretaker Committee, informed that he had declined the appointment, saying the BoT decision was unconstitutional.
He also stated that he recognised the election which brought Ms Peace Anyiam Osigwe as president in Asaba.
According to him, “I have consulted widely and extensively and have also been informed by my lawyer of the illegality as such committee is not recognised by AMP’s constitution”.
In a statement he released on Tuesday, Obazele further stated, “My people from Edo chapter also called and warned me not to participate in anything that will truncate the mandate that they gave to the Peace led executives.
“In view of this and in line with my moral suasion and personal principles. I humbly decline this appointment from whatever quarter it came from.
“I hereby pledge my continual support for the duly elected Peace Anyiam Osigwe led exco and my respect for the AMP constitution”.
On Monday, just minutes after the BoT made it’s decision known, former AMP President, Mr. Madu Chikwendu had pooh-poohed the BoT order, while upholding Peace Anyiam Osigwe as properly elected.
He was the first to note that the AMP BoT as it stands, was not properly constituted and as such, cannot give such orders to the members.
Mr. Chikwendu in a terse statement had descended heavily on the Zeb Ejiro led BoT calling its actions, illegal. As Chikwendu puts it, “The truth is, under AMP Constitution and Tradition, the BoT does not have the kind of power they are arrogating to themselves. This was the subject of serious crisis during my tenure from 2003 to 2007“, Madu Chikwendu stated.
