I normally do not get into AAM debates on e-mail because they are time
consuming and sometimes pointless. However, in the present instance, I am
intrigued by what Askia's history of AAM has left out, and wonder if the
silence is inspired by any motivation other than carelessness. In any case,
it is important, I think, to set the record straight.
While it is not pleasant to speak of bad times, it is worth remembering
that when I was elected President (despite my protestations) in September
1995, we found AAM near collapse. Meetings were attended by only a handful
of people, and discord was rampant, even among those few. The most urgent
task of the new Executive was to put the association back on solid ground
and get people to talk and associate with one another again. Structural
changes, among them the systematic use of the computer for the
association's records, were undertaken. The revision of the Constitution
which is now being lauded for its efficacy took about a year of work by a
committee under the able leadership of the Vice-President, Samoh Wallang.
The provision which now allows automatic succession to the Presidency was
hotly debated both in committee and at general meetings, and opposed as
unworkable by some who have since benefitted from it.
One could go on, but there is no need, and time is in short supply. This
should suffice to remind us that the writing of history can be a dangerous
thing if it is not done correctly, and that truncated views of history have
done immeasurable harm to our beloved African societies.
Aliko Songolo
At 11:47 PM 12/2/99 -0800, you wrote:
>In a special election held on Saturday, June 26, 1999,
>Chief Dr. Ademola Iyi-Eweka was elected Vice
>President, barely two months to Afest 99. Iyi-Eweka
>immediately went to work as Chairman of the Monitoring
>and Evaluation Committee, a position that the Festival
>Planning and Implementation Committee reserved for the
>Vice President. As the Vice President, he
>automatically becomes the next President on Saturday,
>December 4, 1999.
>
>Dr. Iyi-Eweka will be both President of the African
>Association of Madison, Inc and, President of the
>Union of Nigerians in Madison, UNIMA. His position
>also, unless changes are effected, makes him Chairman
>of the Festival Planning and Implementation Committee.
> Therefore, he will be juggling among three
>responsibilities of equal pull. He may succeed with
>all three depending on how he galvanizes his troops.
>Or, he may choose to forgo two responsibilities and
>focus his energy where there is comparative advantage.
>
>In the last two administrations, the Presidents have
>tapped their Vice Presidents. Akyea easily welcome
>Yarl as his Vice President. Yarl tapped Cole for the
>position. Who has Iyi-Eweka tapped for the Vice
>Presidency? Barely two days to the next general
>meeting, the Electoral Board has received no
>nominations. Who would be our next Vice President?
>Our next Treasurer? Our next Financial Secretary? Or,
>our next Secretary? These are questions for Dr.
>Iyi-Eweka and these would be crucial if he should
>succeed in all the responsibilities he now carry.
>
>There is some concern within UNIMA that Dr. Iyi-Eweka
>should not have accepted the Presidency of the African
>Association at the special elections. "He definitely
>needed to address the UNIMA issue first before taking
>on an extra role," said a member of the organization
>who prefers not to be named. The issue been referred
>to here is a consensus among UNIMA members asking that
>Dr. Iyi-Eweka resign from the Presidency.
>
>Another concern is the role of the Chairman in
>Planning and Implementing Afest. When put together,
>it may seem easy, may be it is justifiable to say so,
>that is, if all the drivers for success are timely
>and appropriate. The past two Presidents, Akyea and
>Yarl put in several hours that involved endless and
>sleepless nights. Physically, it was a drain and its
>impact was and still visible on Yarl. Would Dr. Iyi-
>Eweka subject himself to this strain in the face of
>certain uncertainties?
>
>Many questions remain to be answered. But it is time
>to begin looking at the Association as an institution
>in the making. Like all successful organizations, it
>is now time to move forward with the appointment of a
>Director. The General Paid up membership shall
>constitute the Board and establish policies for the
>organization. This involves planning but luckily we
>do have the talents to facilitate the process and we
>must revisit with them again, if Afest 2000 should be
>successful.
>
>Askia Med Hassan.
>
>=====
>21st Century African Youth Movement
>International Coordinating Secretariat
>P.O.Box 8582
>Madison, WI 53708-8582
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
>"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts
>can be counted." -- Einstein
>__________________________________________________
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