- 'Allegation Against Me False, Unfounded', Says Aluko
- Advises Her Critics To Embrace Dialogue In AFFAN's Interest
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Concerned Stakeholders of the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN), have insisted that the acting president, Dr. Esther Aluko acted contrary to the vision and mission of founders which included, promotion of unity amongst the various tribes and regions in Nigeria by altering the constitution to promote her divisive tendencies in the association.
Part of the core mandate and objectives AFFAN is not to showcase only those who represented Nigeria at global sporting events, but to combine collective resources and efforts to discover, nurture, and support upcoming young girls to achieve the same, and even greater heights in sports at world level.
But the acting president, Dr. Esther Aluko is her reaction to the petition described the allegations as false and unfounded.
She also added that those who wrote petitions against her regarding the way she is managing the affairs of the association should have embraced dialogue if the really loved AFFAN and wished good things for the association.
Statement signed by Dr. Tonia Chinyere Uwa, on behalf of the Concerned Stakeholders of AFFAN also underscored Aluko for promoting divisive tendencies instead of promoting peace common with sports through governance structure that reflects inclusive mandate.
AFFAN is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as an Incorporated Trustee under Registration No. 125037, and is collectively owned by its members in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, and so no single individual has the legal authority to claim sole ownership of the Association.
Clarifications by the Concerned Stakeholders, according to Dr. Uwa has become necessary following reactions to the submission of a petition to the CAC and relevant government authorities detailing clandestine moves by Aluko to hijack AFFAN and also claim its ownership.
The position of the Concerned Stakeholders is that Aluko distorted AFFAN constitution with the intent to remove some board members and replace them with loyalists ahead of her planned election.
Internal engagement or dialogue was sought with the Acting President prior to the petition, but the efforts did not yield desired results because she removed people that initiated the dialogue and locked the wassap platforms against opposing views to her plans.
The founders had planned level playing field for all members, but she doctored the original constitution in circulation to restrict the offices of President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Secretary General to only athletes who represented Nigeria in Olympic Committee-recognized sports without subject to the amendments process provided in the subsisting Constitution of AFFAN.
Removal and appointment of Trustees outside the procedures prescribed by CAMA 2020 and the Constitution of AFFAN are not valid and this, the Concerned Stakeholders insisted cannot take effect because such changes require a resolution of members and proper documentations with the CAC.
The group also expressed concerns that instead of opening up for dialogue, Aluko decided to lock the platform and even removed some perceived enemies who had every reason to demand for explanations on why the sudden changes that does not reflect transparency or good governance in AFFAN.
Reaffirming that the aim and objectives of AFFAN is not to showcase only those who represented Nigeria in the years past at international sporting events, but promoting combined collective resources and efforts that will discover, nurture, and support upcoming young girls to achieve similar or same greater heights in sports, believing that any genuine governance structure must reflect inclusiveness.
While eargerly waiting for response of the CAC and relevant authorities, the AFFAN Concerned Stakeholders urge all members,
Sports Federations, critical stakeholders, and the general public to disregard communications on,
notice of meetings or election that may have been issued through unconstitutional process.
Nevertheless, Dr. Uwa and her group said they remains committed to upholding the rule of law and to resolving all matters internally in the best interest of not only current AFFAN members but the future of women generally in sports. NNL.
