The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is currently sitting on a time bomb that may explode anytime soon. This is because the peace treaty that presently holds the bared threads of the body together is about to be shredded by warring members.

The sword-bearing members are Pretty Okafor, and the Interim National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PMAN, Kevin Lucciano as the former is now parading himself as the interim president of the union.

The committee has now issued a strong worded statement for everyone to disregard the Okafor-led administration because it is illegal. The committee said Okafor did not follow due process and advised him to wait till October 29, 2015 when an election is expected to hold.

The statement also denied the claims of the dissolution of states’ executive councils of PMAN, which they said was signed by Lucciano.

But Okafor issued a counter-statement saying the opposition is standing up against him because of his stance against some clandestine activities perpetuated by some members of PMAN.

“I personally met with them and it was unanimously agreed that the new order should subside. So I must confess that I’m surprised that some of them went back to the trenches again to reopen the wound that has retrogressed the association for the past 34 years of its birth,” Okafor said.

Lucciano, in his statement, said he is acting upon the mandate of members of the association and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in returning sanity and due process elections to the body.

“The committee has the support of the majority of the state chapters of PMAN behind it. Only three people out of hundreds of thousands of musicians in Nigeria are causing problems for the association.

“PMAN’s problem is not about who becomes president or who will not occupy that position. The real problem has to do with the association regaining its credibility and being able to carry out the rightful duties of a union.

“Also, the problem revolves around its ability to create awareness for the younger generation of Nigerian musicians. PMAN is not just an association, it is a labour union for the entertainment industry,” Lucciano said.

He further stated that he is not nursing a desire to become PMAN president, stating that he is looking at a PMAN that will have young generation of executives. He advised the older generation should not see the executive positions as their retirement rights.

“I don’t want to contest for the position of president. I have my own business and I am okay with it. But if bringing PMAN to its rightful position and giving the younger generation of musicians the opportunity to take over the association is all I am able to do in my time, then I would have achieved something very good.

“My prayer is that they will take over the affairs of the association from those who see it as their retirement benefit.” he said.