AFN has not amended 2017 Constitution – Member

A member of the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Rosa Collins says the 2017 constitution of the federation remains the working document guiding the activities of its officials and stakeholders.

Collins, a former African triple jump record holder says the clarification becomes necessary following reports that the constitution was amended at the AFN Congress in Awka, Anambra State last December.

She said, “Engr Ibrahim Gusau wrote in a letter dated August 7, 2020 and addressed to chairmen of state associations that the AFN constitution was amended in Awka and that it is that amended constitution that is now the working document of the federation. This is far from the truth.

 “To start with, there was no AFN Congress in Awka. The AFN constitution (2017) is clear on how a Congress can be convened and the charade in Awka did not comply with article 6.1.4 of the federation’s constitution which stipulates a 60-day notice must be given before a congress can be convened.”

The 1995 African Games triple jump champion added, “And article 6.1.5 of the same constitution goes further to state when all documents relating to the congress should be sent. It says all the documents related to the congress shall be sent to the Secretariat of each member association at least thirty days prior to the congress.” The four-time Nigeria triple jump queen said that the notice for the congress was issued on November 5, 2019, which was 29 days to the date of the purported congress.

“Let us, for the sake of argument even assume the Congress was legally convened, was the procedure for amending the constitution followed? The answer is simple: it was not.”

She explained that articles 10.1.2 and 10.1.3 of the AFN constitution (2017) state the procedure to follow if the constitution is to be amended.

“For the avoidance of doubt, article 10.1.2 states that the proposal to amend the constitution must be sent to the AFN Secretary General at least six months to the date of the Congress where the amendment has been scheduled to take place.

 “And article 10.1.3 says all proposals as well as recommendations of the AFN board related to such proposals shall be sent to member state association by the Secretary General at least three months prior to the congress. The question to ask Gusau is: was there a proposal to amend the constitution? If he says there is, then he should show proof that it was sent by the AFN Secretary General to member state associations on or before September 4, 2019, that is not later than three months to the date of the Congress where the amendment has been scheduled to hold.”

The AFN board member says Gusau has a penchant for circumventing the constitution to achieve personal goals.