ACTING Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK Simon Ogah is facing a crucial decision; whether to dissolve the executive committee of Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) as incessant infighting has made it almost totally inoperative.
Over the past year, the Canuk executive committee has been so fundamentally at odds it has never managed to end a meeting harmoniously since its inception. This week, things have come to a head as the executive took a decision to hold Canuk's annual general meeting (AGM) in March next year, when elections will take place, but its chairman Babatunde Loye sought to hold an emergency general meeting (EGM) this month (on November 12).
Canuk executives are elected for a two-year tenure, after which an AGM must hold, during which new officials are elected. Canuk general secretary Dr Gbenga Coker plans to initiate the electoral process this month and is planning to write to delegates asking them to firm up their membership and pay their annual dues to enable them participate in the AGM.
However, Mr Loye insists on holding an EGM before the AGM to enable him change the constitution before the elections. Other members of the executive committee have kicked against this but in defiance Mr Loye has called an EGM for this Saturday November 12 and in response, Dr Coker has written to the High Commission, saying no such meeting is taking place.
At Canuk's last AGM in May, the executive committee was asked to call an EGM within three months but now that the time for this has lapsed, the constitution states that two-thirds of the exco have to agree to calling one. In defiance of this provision, Mr Loye has unilaterally called an EGM, paralysing Canuk.
In a letter to Mr Ogah, Dr Coker wrote: "I want to advise that Canuk's AGM originally proposed for 12 November 2016 has been suspended by a joint statement issued by the chairman and secretary issued on October 12, 2016. A meeting of the executive committee of Canuk will take place on November 24, 2016 where we will deliberate on the matter.
"This letter is to withdraw the previous information released from Canuk regarding the suspended EGM. In the meantime, please vacate any bookings made for the use of the Nigerian High Commission by Canuk on 12 November 2016."
With tensions running high and several Canuk delegates up in arms, Mr Ogah is under pressure to dissolve the exco and appoint a caretaker committee to run its affairs until the AGM in March. Several delegates have described the EGM as illegal and have threatened to come to the High Commission on November 12 and disrupt it.
However, Mr Loye insists he will proceed with his constitutional amendment come what may, prompting allegations that he is trying to rig the process. Among other things, Mr Loye has been accused of trying to dilute the powers of the general secretary and give himself the right to conduct elections.
Other allegations that have been levelled against him in the wake of the constitutional changes he is proposing is that he is seeking to make the executive committee toothless and pass on these powers to the Canuk advisory board. Mr Loye is looking to become a member of the advisory board along with several of his allies and control Canuk in that capacity.
Several community leaders have written to Mr Ogah to intervene by not only refusing to make the High Commission available for the proposed EGM but to also dissolve the Canuk exco. Last week, a meeting called by the former Canuk general secretary Dr Peter Ozua to resolve the crisis failed to find a solution.
Apart from the fact that Mr Loye snubbed the meeting, his supporters who attended were insistent that they will proceed with the EGM come what may. Among those who attended the peace meeting were community leaders like Yoruba Council of Elders chairman Otunba Bolaji Falase, foormer mayor of Enfield Kate Anolue, former mayor of Hackney Susan Fajana-Thomas, motivational speaker Dayo Olomu, former mayor of Waltham Forest Anna Mbachu, as well as the members of the executive committee.
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