THE HISTORY OF PMAN
1972
It took nine years after the discord that stretched the period of Nigeria independence, before musicians with profound individual talent and determination came together again under one organisation with the likes of late I.K Dairo, Victor Olaiya, Ebenezer Obey, Adeolu Akinsanya and Teddy Ibirama. They united on Independence Day but broke up in 1972.
1975
Ace drummer, Bayo Martins spearheaded the formation of a musicians association with Bobby Benson as the president and Martins as the secretary but personal differences separated them in 1975
1977
Ghanaian Professor Kwabena Nketia used the spirit of Festival of Black Art and Culture (FESTAC) to unite the Nigerian musicians with the formation of National Music Council of Nigeria (NMCN) but irreconcilable differences among top members dissolved the group.
1982
King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Christy Essien Igbokwe and Sunny Okosun, converged to form P-MAN in 1984. The new association principally sought to bring performers together in defence of their common interest, which borders on piracy and boot- legging. About the same time an attempt was made to resuscitate NUM but this time The Union was called the National Union of Nigeria (NUNM) with Roy Chicago as its patron.
LATE 80’s AND EARLY 90’s
NUM and P-MAN emerged as the main bodies for musicians during this period and they were perpetually opposed to each other making the music industry appear to be a disorganised arena of quarrelsome colleagues and unhealthy rivalry but eventually NUM fizzled out leaving only P-MAN to take control.
THE BIRTH OF PMAN
Christy Essien Igbokwe called a meeting to converge all musicians at King Sunny Ade’s Ariya night club, Jibowu and King Sunny Ade was unanimously elected as the president of PMAN. Members of his committee were Emma Ogosi (Protem General Secretary) Christy Essien Igbokwe (Treasurer) Terry Jackson Alumona (Administrative Secretary). Sub-committees includes the technical committee headed by Laolu Akins with members like Chris Ajilo, Harry Moscow, Onyeka Onwuenu, Lemmy Jackson and Obi Onyiola. The anti-piracy committee had the likes of Maliki Showman and Eunice Makos Animoku on board, while the publicity committee was headed by Funmi Adams and Lijadu sisters were some members.
1986
Sunny Okosun took over as the president in 1986; he had served as King Sunny Ade vice president. Gathering enough funds to run P-MAN was gradually becoming a problem so he did not seek re-election.
1989
Tony Okoroji was installed as the next P-MAN president in 1989. The need to get further recognition for the association from the military government at that time was engineered by him. The Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) instituted by him was held for three consecutive years. Top military functionaries attended the show, millions were realised and it looked like the association would get a magnificent plaza at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja after it had secured an 8.5 hectares of land, but it was not to be. Okoroji got a third term and he remains the longest serving P-MAN president.
1995
Okoroji handed over to his ally Mallam Mustapha Amego, the first and only northerner to preside over the affairs of the association.
1997
Christy Essien Igbokwe who had done two terms, was stopped from re-contesting for a third term by a court injunction instituted by her friend Terry Jackson Alumona.
2000
Christy handed over to King Sunny Ade. Frustrations led him out of the organisation.
1972
It took nine years after the discord that stretched the period of Nigeria independence, before musicians with profound individual talent and determination came together again under one organisation with the likes of late I.K Dairo, Victor Olaiya, Ebenezer Obey, Adeolu Akinsanya and Teddy Ibirama. They united on Independence Day but broke up in 1972.
1975
Ace drummer, Bayo Martins spearheaded the formation of a musicians association with Bobby Benson as the president and Martins as the secretary but personal differences separated them in 1975
1977
Ghanaian Professor Kwabena Nketia used the spirit of Festival of Black Art and Culture (FESTAC) to unite the Nigerian musicians with the formation of National Music Council of Nigeria (NMCN) but irreconcilable differences among top members dissolved the group.
1982
King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Christy Essien Igbokwe and Sunny Okosun, converged to form P-MAN in 1984. The new association principally sought to bring performers together in defence of their common interest, which borders on piracy and boot- legging. About the same time an attempt was made to resuscitate NUM but this time The Union was called the National Union of Nigeria (NUNM) with Roy Chicago as its patron.
LATE 80’s AND EARLY 90’s
NUM and P-MAN emerged as the main bodies for musicians during this period and they were perpetually opposed to each other making the music industry appear to be a disorganised arena of quarrelsome colleagues and unhealthy rivalry but eventually NUM fizzled out leaving only P-MAN to take control.
THE BIRTH OF PMAN
Christy Essien Igbokwe called a meeting to converge all musicians at King Sunny Ade’s Ariya night club, Jibowu and King Sunny Ade was unanimously elected as the president of PMAN. Members of his committee were Emma Ogosi (Protem General Secretary) Christy Essien Igbokwe (Treasurer) Terry Jackson Alumona (Administrative Secretary). Sub-committees includes the technical committee headed by Laolu Akins with members like Chris Ajilo, Harry Moscow, Onyeka Onwuenu, Lemmy Jackson and Obi Onyiola. The anti-piracy committee had the likes of Maliki Showman and Eunice Makos Animoku on board, while the publicity committee was headed by Funmi Adams and Lijadu sisters were some members.
1986
Sunny Okosun took over as the president in 1986; he had served as King Sunny Ade vice president. Gathering enough funds to run P-MAN was gradually becoming a problem so he did not seek re-election.
1989
Tony Okoroji was installed as the next P-MAN president in 1989. The need to get further recognition for the association from the military government at that time was engineered by him. The Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) instituted by him was held for three consecutive years. Top military functionaries attended the show, millions were realised and it looked like the association would get a magnificent plaza at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja after it had secured an 8.5 hectares of land, but it was not to be. Okoroji got a third term and he remains the longest serving P-MAN president.
1995
Okoroji handed over to his ally Mallam Mustapha Amego, the first and only northerner to preside over the affairs of the association.
1997
Christy Essien Igbokwe who had done two terms, was stopped from re-contesting for a third term by a court injunction instituted by her friend Terry Jackson Alumona.
2000
Christy handed over to King Sunny Ade. Frustrations led him out of the organisation.
2002 - 2003 - Sunny Ade handed over to Mr. Femi Lasode. Lasode's tenure was uneventful. He was eventually impeached on the 15th of March 2003 by the National Executive Council (NEC), and a Ten Man Caretaker Committee headed by Mr. Hariz Ib. Okeilo (Dr. Zimakoy) was put in place with the mandate to oversee the affairs of the Association for 3 months and then organise a free and fair election. Lasode was however allowed to complete his tenure due to immediate intervention of well-meaning elders of the Association. Lasode's impeachment was as a result of gross incompetence and inability to carry out any meaningful program or project to generate revenue for the Association. His attempt on the Nigerian Musicians Music Hall of Fame ended in scandal.
2003 - 2005 - Charly Boy took over the office of the President of PMAN. His dispensation came with a lot of razzmatazz and promised to continue the fight against piracy.
On the 14th of July 2005, the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting summoned by Charly Boy’s Exco, held and fixed Nov. 28, 2005 for the National Delegates Conference and Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital was chosen as venue. However two months to the day, President Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) and his second in command Oritz Williki convened another meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC). The meeting held at the PMAN Headquarters, then situated at No. 18 Adegbola Street, Anifowoshe - Ikeja on the 25th of September 2005, and the Council Delegates disagreed with the conveners of the meeting and voted in favor of 28 November and venue as originally agreed. The slogan then was: "On Uyo Election we Stand".
At the Uyo Election, The following officers were elected: (1) Admiral Dele Abiodun – President (2) Mr. Emma Ogosi - 1st Vise President (3) Mr. Ibezim H. Okeilo (Dr. Zimakoy) 2nd Vice President (4) Mr. Kunle ponle (Opio) - National Treasurer.
Upon return from Uyo to Lagos after the Election, Mr. Charles Oputa refused the new Exco entry into the PMAN Secretariat. His second in command Oritz Williki consequently filed a suit at the Ikeja High Court to stop Dele Abiodun from parading himself as PMAN President.
2006 - 2009 - In February 2006 - while the suit was pending in court, Charles Oputa and his group organised another election in Kaduna where Charly Boy's right hand man Bolaji Rosiji emerged President. Bolaji's administration inherited the court process. The young man (Bolaji) tried his best to succeed in the face of many obstacles but his best was not good enough as he was highly criticized from all angles by the administration that put him there, despite the fact that Admiral Dele Abiodun had already been elected President.
In 2007 Bolaji Rosiji resigned from the position due to pressure from Charly Boy, and Tee Mac Omatsola Itseli took over as President without following due constitutional provisions. The battle for who takes over the rightful presidency of PMAN continued in court between Admiral Dele Abiodun and Tee Mac for a long time that the entire industry lost interest in who emerges winner until 20th March 2009, when Admiral Dele Abiodun was declared duly elected President of PMAN, in a landmark judgement delivered by Justice L.G.A. Marsh of the the Ikeja High Court. After the court victory Dele Abiodun took over the total control of PMAN as President.
2003 - 2005 - Charly Boy took over the office of the President of PMAN. His dispensation came with a lot of razzmatazz and promised to continue the fight against piracy.
On the 14th of July 2005, the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting summoned by Charly Boy’s Exco, held and fixed Nov. 28, 2005 for the National Delegates Conference and Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital was chosen as venue. However two months to the day, President Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) and his second in command Oritz Williki convened another meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC). The meeting held at the PMAN Headquarters, then situated at No. 18 Adegbola Street, Anifowoshe - Ikeja on the 25th of September 2005, and the Council Delegates disagreed with the conveners of the meeting and voted in favor of 28 November and venue as originally agreed. The slogan then was: "On Uyo Election we Stand".
At the Uyo Election, The following officers were elected: (1) Admiral Dele Abiodun – President (2) Mr. Emma Ogosi - 1st Vise President (3) Mr. Ibezim H. Okeilo (Dr. Zimakoy) 2nd Vice President (4) Mr. Kunle ponle (Opio) - National Treasurer.
Upon return from Uyo to Lagos after the Election, Mr. Charles Oputa refused the new Exco entry into the PMAN Secretariat. His second in command Oritz Williki consequently filed a suit at the Ikeja High Court to stop Dele Abiodun from parading himself as PMAN President.
2006 - 2009 - In February 2006 - while the suit was pending in court, Charles Oputa and his group organised another election in Kaduna where Charly Boy's right hand man Bolaji Rosiji emerged President. Bolaji's administration inherited the court process. The young man (Bolaji) tried his best to succeed in the face of many obstacles but his best was not good enough as he was highly criticized from all angles by the administration that put him there, despite the fact that Admiral Dele Abiodun had already been elected President.
In 2007 Bolaji Rosiji resigned from the position due to pressure from Charly Boy, and Tee Mac Omatsola Itseli took over as President without following due constitutional provisions. The battle for who takes over the rightful presidency of PMAN continued in court between Admiral Dele Abiodun and Tee Mac for a long time that the entire industry lost interest in who emerges winner until 20th March 2009, when Admiral Dele Abiodun was declared duly elected President of PMAN, in a landmark judgement delivered by Justice L.G.A. Marsh of the the Ikeja High Court. After the court victory Dele Abiodun took over the total control of PMAN as President.
2010 - Efforts was made during this period to introduce two life changing projects - The Media Distribution Network (MDN) and the PMAN Musicians Hall of Fame but this two projects did not see the light of day due to the diversion of the funds that would have facilitated the unveiling of the projects. Police at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) investigated these diversions of Union funds and found Dele Abiodun and his cohorts culpable, hence they were charged to court on 7 count charges of fraud and stealing of Union funds.
2011 - 2014 - During the pendency of the fraud and stealing charges in court, Dele Abiodun in January 26, 2011 organized an illegal election in Oshogbo that brought him back as President. The Oshogbo election was however challenged in court and on the 6th of June 2011, Admiral Dele Abiodun denounced the Oshogbo election and resigned his position as President to Emma Ogosi, his second in command. Emma immediately assumed position as President and on the 23rd of June, 2011 Murphy Van Anthony invaded the PMAN Secretariat with over one hundred and fifty (150) armed thugs and forcefully took over the leadership of the Association in total disregard of the PMAN constitution. PMAN tried to use the police to address the issue to no avail and then a case was instituted against Murphy and his gang by PMAN, Mr. Ibezim H. Okeilo (1st Vice President) and 31 others at the Federal High Court Lagos division.
Murphy Van Anthony continued his reign of terror and even went as far as organizing the election that brought in Hajia Amina Dangaji as President in 2013, despite the fact that there was an order of the Federal High Court to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the final determination of the matter in court.
This piece cannot be complete without mentioning the PMAN Peace Initiative Committee. That group led by Kelvin Luciano Gabriel was personally put together by Dr. Zimakoy, to call Murphy Van Anthony to order and prevent him from further plundering of the Union, but members of the committee had a different plan and agenda to unconstitutionally take over the leadership of the Association. The Peace Committee became a Law unto themselves, they rented an office apartment, appointed themselves officers and even filed a suit at the National Industrial Court in a representative capacity with the sole aim of using the court to rubber stamp their illegality. However PMAN responded appropriately and prevented them from the cash-and-carry judgment that they had bargained for.
Nevertheless, Murphy Van Anthony and his group continued their war against the Union until Feb 2014, when they pleaded for out of court settlement of the matter at the Federal High Court. It was at that point that terms of settlement was agreed and on the 31st of October 2014, a consent Judgment in the matter was delivered after several adjournments and the following men made the list of the new interim PMAN Executive as encapsulated by the court Judgment - Mr. Pretty Okafor, Mr. Hariz H. Okeilo, Mr. Sunny Neji, Mr. Tuface Idibia, Baba Dee, Mr. Tolu Obey, Mr. Dennis Baker and Kenny Ama George, with Pretty Okafor as President.
This administration is turning out to be the greatest the industry has ever had, churning out several new projects and resuscitating old ones. History will be the judge when the time comes.
2011 - 2014 - During the pendency of the fraud and stealing charges in court, Dele Abiodun in January 26, 2011 organized an illegal election in Oshogbo that brought him back as President. The Oshogbo election was however challenged in court and on the 6th of June 2011, Admiral Dele Abiodun denounced the Oshogbo election and resigned his position as President to Emma Ogosi, his second in command. Emma immediately assumed position as President and on the 23rd of June, 2011 Murphy Van Anthony invaded the PMAN Secretariat with over one hundred and fifty (150) armed thugs and forcefully took over the leadership of the Association in total disregard of the PMAN constitution. PMAN tried to use the police to address the issue to no avail and then a case was instituted against Murphy and his gang by PMAN, Mr. Ibezim H. Okeilo (1st Vice President) and 31 others at the Federal High Court Lagos division.
Murphy Van Anthony continued his reign of terror and even went as far as organizing the election that brought in Hajia Amina Dangaji as President in 2013, despite the fact that there was an order of the Federal High Court to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the final determination of the matter in court.
This piece cannot be complete without mentioning the PMAN Peace Initiative Committee. That group led by Kelvin Luciano Gabriel was personally put together by Dr. Zimakoy, to call Murphy Van Anthony to order and prevent him from further plundering of the Union, but members of the committee had a different plan and agenda to unconstitutionally take over the leadership of the Association. The Peace Committee became a Law unto themselves, they rented an office apartment, appointed themselves officers and even filed a suit at the National Industrial Court in a representative capacity with the sole aim of using the court to rubber stamp their illegality. However PMAN responded appropriately and prevented them from the cash-and-carry judgment that they had bargained for.
Nevertheless, Murphy Van Anthony and his group continued their war against the Union until Feb 2014, when they pleaded for out of court settlement of the matter at the Federal High Court. It was at that point that terms of settlement was agreed and on the 31st of October 2014, a consent Judgment in the matter was delivered after several adjournments and the following men made the list of the new interim PMAN Executive as encapsulated by the court Judgment - Mr. Pretty Okafor, Mr. Hariz H. Okeilo, Mr. Sunny Neji, Mr. Tuface Idibia, Baba Dee, Mr. Tolu Obey, Mr. Dennis Baker and Kenny Ama George, with Pretty Okafor as President.
This administration is turning out to be the greatest the industry has ever had, churning out several new projects and resuscitating old ones. History will be the judge when the time comes.
PIONEER NATIONAL OFFICERS
King Sunny Ade (KSA) - President Sunny Okosun - Vice President Christy Essien Igbokwe - National Treasurer Emma Ogosi - General Secretary PAST GENERAL SECRETARIES Emma Ogosi Okuomoise E. Okoumoise Innocent Laz (Acting) Idowu Blessing Barr. Chuks Akamadu (Acting) Okey Dike Dr. Kenny Ama George |
PAST PRESIDENTS
King Sunny Ade (KSA) 1982 – 1986, 1999 – 2002 Evang. Sunny Okosun 1986 – 1988 Chief Tony Okoroji 1988 – 1993 Mustapha Amego 1993 – 1996 Christy Essien Igbokwe 1996 – 1999 King Sunny Ade (KSA) Obafemi Lasode 2002 – 2003 Charles E. Oputa 2003 – 2006 Bolaji Rosiji 2006 – 2007 Tee Mac Admiral Dele Abiodun Murphy Van Anthony Hajia Amina Dangaji Pretty Okafor |
PAST PMAN ADMINISTRATIONS
The Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria is the umbrella Musicians' Union in Nigeria.
Formation Venue: Ariya Nite Club, Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos.
Formation Date: 1982
Registered: 1984
National Headquarters: 14 Fadeyi Street, Off Awolowo Way – Ikeja, Lagos.(Interim)
FOUNDING MEMBERS:
Chief (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe, King Sunny Ade (KSA), Evang. Sunny Okosuns (late), Chief Ebenezer Obey, Lemmy Jackson, Tee-Mac Omatshola Iseli, Emma Ogosi, Laolu Akins, Funmi Adams, Oby Onyioha, Maliki Showman, Harry Mosco, King Pago, Bobby Benson etc.
The Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria is the umbrella Musicians' Union in Nigeria.
Formation Venue: Ariya Nite Club, Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos.
Formation Date: 1982
Registered: 1984
National Headquarters: 14 Fadeyi Street, Off Awolowo Way – Ikeja, Lagos.(Interim)
FOUNDING MEMBERS:
Chief (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe, King Sunny Ade (KSA), Evang. Sunny Okosuns (late), Chief Ebenezer Obey, Lemmy Jackson, Tee-Mac Omatshola Iseli, Emma Ogosi, Laolu Akins, Funmi Adams, Oby Onyioha, Maliki Showman, Harry Mosco, King Pago, Bobby Benson etc.