AFN Board Members Boycott Meeting Over Non-inclusion of Audit Committee Report, African Games Preparations In Agenda

Not less than six out of the 13 members of the Executive Board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, were not part of the Executive Board meeting of
the federation scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 31, 2023 starting from 12 pm.

Five members of the board had threatened to boycott the meeting if Tonobok Okowa, the AFN President did not direct Rita Moshindi, the Secretary General to
include the consideration of the AFN Audit Committee Report and the preparations for the African Games which will hold in March 2024 in the agenda.

Some board members also criticised the decision for giving less than 16 hours notice for the meeting despite reminders during the outgone week via the AFN
Whatssap platform about the meeting as agreed at the last board meeting.

Tafida Gadzama, the AFN First Vice President told our correspondent Sunday morning that Okowa should realise he is not dealing with kids on the board of the
fderation.

‘We agreed at our last board meeting that there will be another meeting on or before the end of the year to find closure to some of the issues on the agenda

prominent among which is the audit committee report as well as the 2024 programme of activities which of course will include preparations for the African

Games.

‘Some of us reminded him (Okowa) through the Secretary General of the need to issue the notice of the meeting with the agenda early enough to enable board

members make proper plan for their movement in this festive period. What did we get? A rude shock as Mr Okowa thought we were some Primary school pupils that

can be commanded at his whim and caprice,’ said Gadzama, an African Games gold medal winner for Nigeria in 1999.

Rosa Collins, the second Vice President of the AFN who is also an African Games gold medal winner says the audit committee report and the federation’s

programme of activities for next year were left hanging during the last meeting.

‘We were all expecting that will be the main issues Sunday’s meeting will focus on inspite of the unbelievable short notice but we were shocked the President

feels unconcerned about our athletes, especially those at home who have the chance to dorn the white and green colours of Nigeria at the African Games.

As it is, we are way behind in terms of preparations and we thought that will be ringing in the ears of our President too but he obviously has other

priorities other than that of the athletes,’ said Collins who made history as the first woman to win the women’s triple jump gold in African Games history.

Meanwhile, Dare Esan, another member of the board who was not at the meeting says nine out of the 13 members need to be present to form a quorum for the
meeting to hold.

‘For the meeting to be legitimate, nine out of the 13 members must be present pursuant to article 15.4 of the AFN Constitution 2023 as amended. It states
thus: ‘Quorum is formed when 2/3 of the members are present following notice of meeting by the Secretary General.’

Esan said it is necessary to point this out because of the President’s disregard for AFN constitution when he convened an ’emergency extraordinary’ congress
earlier this year in contravention of article 10.1.7 of the fedration’s constitution which stipulates a 15 day working days notice.