SCRAP PMAN?

On facebook about six months ago, some guys created and  invited me to the facebook page 'SCRAP PMAN?' https://www.facebook.com/pages/SCRAP-PMAN/142945642549619?ref=hl  . Immediately i became very curious and wanted to know the people behind this, so i asked to be made an admin, and my request was granted. I asked a few questions and they gave me a piece of there minds. Truly speaking you don't want to know what's in there minds(gosh !! it's el terrible).Bottom line is that they think the 'Peoples Musicians Association of Nigeria should be scrapped. They think it is useless to up and coming acts.They changed its abbreviation to "Please Meet Abgayas of Nigeria". How! Why?

 PMAN was formed in 1982 to address the many issues confronting musicians in the Nigerian Music Industry. It started with king Sunny Ade as president, and late Sonny Okosun as vice president and late Christy Essien Igbokwe as treasurer. Those were the good old Days you might say. Soon they planted a secretariat at number 3 Ola Ayeni Street in Ikeja, Lagos. They stormed plenty presidential palaces, getting support from people like the then president Shehu Shagari and Alao Arishekola and many more. They succeeded in registering the association as a trade union in 1994.

IN COMES TONY OKOROJI AND CO.

After so many ups and downs, on July 27^th, 1987 Tony Okoroji was made President backed up by great and brilliant Onyeka Owenu as first vice president and the ever upright producer and drummer Laolu Akins as second vice president. 

As far as I Lepa Titilayo and most Nigerians are concerned, Tony Okoroji and his team of Onyeka and Laolu remains the most intelligent and smartest leadership PMAN has ever had. If you know otherwise then lets argue it right here. They did credible works that pivoted PMAN to higher heights. They organized the first ever music awards in Nigeria, the “NMA” to which so many others followed suit. They kick started the copyright battle that the Nigerian music industry is now enjoying as radio and TV stations have started paying royalties for the usage of music. They did many wonderful things as it should be done.

AFTERWARDS

Perhaps other musicians saw the leadership of the association as an opportunity to make quick money, or some a chance to boost their ego. All of a sudden, all characters attempted to lead PMAN.

When Tony and his team left, Mustapha Amigo and so many others tried but performed very little.

RETURNS CHRISTY

 Years after, the Late Christy Essien Igbokwe returned as PMAN president. In her tenure as leader, she convinced the “MUSIC INDUSTRY” to support late head of state General Abacha to continue as president of the country when she lead them to the “2million man march” at the Eagle square in Abuja(hmm. what a leader).

RETURNS KSA

When Christy left, King Sunny Ade came back as president (again?). He moved the PMAN headquarters to Agege motor road, on the express. He could not do much after that so he passed the baton to Femi Lasode and Zakki adzay who could not do much either. As at this period, the younger artistes like the Plantation Boys, Remedies, Eldee Da Don & the Tribes Men, Def O clan Lord of Ajasa, had formed their own association “The Afro Hip Hop Society Of Nigeria” under the leadership of Seyi Allen, a top artiste manager and showbiz impresario, some very strong behind the scene industry pillar character.  The society was aimed at giving the African brand of Hip Hop a voice. This group brought the Nigerian Music Industry back to its feet today. They created and named a brand new sound Called Afro Hip Hop, which is currently Nigeria’s main music.  The Afro hip hop Society had the support of lots of heads, like JAJ and ryhtym fm Djs, Kenny Ogungbe, Prime Tyme and Raypower Djs, Kwame and Star Fm Djs, DJ Jimmy Jatt and lots of OAP’S.

HOW CHARLY BOY FUCKED IT ALL UP

After so much battle by others to lead, Charly Boy was forced in as PMAN President around 2002, with Dele Abiodun as his first vice president and Orits Wiliki as second vice. This grandfather who still calls himself ‘boy’ and his team brought back glamour to PMAN, created an insurance scheme and tackled Alaba pirates.  But according to members, Charly boy’s greed 4 money brought the current ruin to the association. At the expiration of his 2 year tenure, he was said to have collected money from Bolaji Rosiji and later from Tee mac and promised them presidency. Charly boy also super imposed himself as the life Ambassador to PMAN whatever that means (That was the period I was attempting to join PMAN as a young upcoming female singer). Those

moves where heavily resisted by Dele Abiodun and Orits Wiliki both who also wanted to become president of PMAN at one time or the other. Before we know it factions sprung up from various angles. Court cases here and there. Every Tom Dick and Harry was a factional president. Some of them retired disgruntled old musicians, others, young musicians who needed it to boost their ego. Some others were promoters, label owners and even politicians who were trying to hijack PMAN for personal needs.

MY OPINION ( AND THIS COUNTS A LOT).

Years ago when I wanted to go professional in my singing career (clears throat…i once tried to go the way of Beyonce). I Lepa Titilayo decided that it was right to join PMAN. So, I carried my novice self and went to PMAN headquarters in Ikeja. What I found there was a free for all igbo joint/car park. When I got there, there was a meeting going on up stairs, and I was asked to join in. All sorts of mechanics, carpenters, thugs, conductors, palm wine tappers, and dadacious rod carrying prophetic looking fellows who all claim to be musicians were busy shouting at the top of their voices at the then president Charly Boy. I never saw any real set of musicians. And I really don’t blame this people. If the real misicians have decided to lay back and leave their careers in the hands of such people then so be it. SHAME ON YOU YOUNG ARTISTES!! SHAAAAAAMMMMEEEE ONNNNNNN YOUUUUUUUUU!

So my opinion is that PMAN should be giving a last chance to survive. REVAMP PMAN NOW!!

The story continues later……..