Veteran musicians endorse PMAN

The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria has received the endorsement of founding members and music maestros in the country such as Victor Uwaifo and Bongos Ikwe.

The National Caretaker Committee of the association had visited Uwaifo, whose tax clearance was used to register the union and other notable musicians across the country last week.

A statement sent to SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday said the 10-man team, led by Mr. Kevin Luciano-Gabriel, had a mandate to restore peace to the embattled union.

It quoted Uwaifo as saying, “I am very sure that this committee is focused and I declare my total support, I will provide necessary assistance to the committee. It is a good idea for the efforts and energy put into the peace process to rescue PMAN from going abysmal. I commend the team and promise to be in touch with other elders.”

The ace guitarist sought the opinion of Juju music icons, Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, which, according to the statement, the committee had contacted.

The team also visited Delta and Anambra states, and Bongos Ikwe in Oturkpo, Benue State.

Ikwe, during the visit, reportedly said, “Unless the union is owned and driven as a business concern, even if government gives billions to PMAN individuals will continue to fight. You should bring members together, and the constitution, which must protect all members, must determine how PMAN, funds are disbursed.”

Luciano-Gabriel, in his remarks, decried unavailability of records for PMAN, saying there was no database for members, structure and fund to run the association.

He said, “The union has lost respect from both members and larger members of the country, while the unions of pepper sellers and vulcanisers are thriving. One wonders what people are looking for in a union that has no dime and a befitting secretariat.”