Nesiama blasts ludicrous decision barring him from AFN board membership

While the illegal and apparently teleguided Congress of the AFN was busy devising means of stopping credible and knowledgeable persons from getting into the executive board of the Federation via next month’s elections, the Confederation of African Athletics, CAA, has appointed two-time technical subcommittee head of the AFN, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama as a referee for the 3rd Africa U18/U20 combined championships slated for Oran, Algeria.

According to media reports, the appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by the Director-General of the CAA, Lamine Faty.

Nesiama is the first and only Nigerian among 19 Africans licensed Athletes’ representative by World Athletics.

Nesiama is also an International technical official and a World Athletics certified lecturer.

Just last week, the AFN, relying on a disputed Constitution at an equally disputed Congress, re-affirms article 17.2 of the AFN Constitution (2023 as amended), which bars persons who have served three times on the board of the Federation from seeking a fourth time.

The article says ‘the maximum number of terms of office for any member of the Executive Board is three (3) terms, and that of the President, the maximum term is three (3) terms.’

Like many others, Nesiama has also reacted to the ludicrous decision inserted into the disputed 2023 Constitution of the AFN, as amended.

‘It is a shame. I take it as a joke. How can they bar a board member? Where did they derive that inspiration from? Even in World Athletics (WA), there is no limit to the tenure of Council members, which equates our Board members. I hope they don’t get the AFN into a prolonged battle.

‘That can relate with the President and not for board members. Let the congress take cue from WA. It is my prerogative to contest if I want, and see whether people want me because of my pedigree. I cannot and should not be barred in a sane and fair system,’ Nesiama was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.