22nd February, 2012
Being an election year into the leadership of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria, PGAN, every activity at the tournament venues this year has been laced with some measure of politics.
At the first event of the year, hosted at the Oturkpo Golf and Country Club in Benue State, the atmosphere was ignited with the debate on the best venue for the Annual General Meeting, (AGM), where the election should hold.
While some pushed for the AGM to hold at the Surulere, Lagos office of the PGA, others agitated for it to be held at a tournament venue with the reason that it will be well attended.
Liadi Jaiyeola, the Director of Finance of the PGAN, said some members are of the opinion that arriving a day before a tournament to take care of the AGM business will be good for the asscociation and the election.
But some of the key issues raised have been challenged which include replacing some of the major current office holders that would not be returning based on the association’s constitution.
The current Director of the body, Jamiu Oyebajo, who has been a stabilising force in the leadership of the association, would be a critical subject at the election, as two players, Festus Makelemi and Tony Uduimoh, have already indicated interest to take over his seat in the executive.
Among the players that are out of favour to return include, Dominic Andrew, the present Tournament Director of the PGAN.
This year’s election is expected to be keenly contested given the fact that members of the association has increased in number, while the association is currently in the middle of a rebranding process aside the growing corporate interest and the state of its marketing arm, PGA Nigeria Tour, whose Chief Executive Officer Sola Lawson has just resigned.
—Adebobola Alawode