‘Shift in ANA convention date not to influence election’

Dr. Agada made this assertion Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja to address issues concerning the association ahead of the 2011 annual international convention to be hosted in Abuja, which incidentally will mark the 30th anniversary of the writers’ body. The president said the convention, earlier scheduled to hold between 0ctober 26-30th, had to […]

Dr. Agada made this assertion Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja to address issues concerning the association ahead of the 2011 annual international convention to be hosted in Abuja, which incidentally will mark the 30th anniversary of the writers’ body.

The president said the convention, earlier scheduled to hold between 0ctober 26-30th, had to be postponed on the request of the Abuja Branch of the association which is hosting the event.

“In the course of their preparations, the ANA Abuja met with some unexpected challenges, which led to their duly requesting ANA National, to consider a shift in the previously announced date of the anniversary convention.  After closely reviewing the challenges and the situation now, we painfully announce a shift in our previously announced date,” he said.

Answering questions from newsmen, Dr. Agada, who was flanked by the association’s Secretary General Mr. Hyacinth Obunseh and Chairman of the Abuja Branch, Dr Seyi Adigun, refuted allegations that he awarded the hosting right to Abuja to help him secure a second term as the president of the association, saying there were bids by three separate chapters and Abuja won the majority of votes cast by members of the association at the Akure convention last year. He pointed out that this would not be the first time the convention would be postponed as it happened in 2000 when Jos hosted.

The president announced that the convention will now hold in the capital from 30th November to the 4th of December and warned the Abuja Branch to stick to this date or risk forfeiting the hosting right.

He said attempts by some people to raise questions about  his competence by circulating text messages are far off the mark as he had handled much bigger responsibilities as a minister and is only in the thick of things in the writers’ body because of the passion he has for penmanship.

He added that he is determined to reposition ANA for greater things, saying he is ready to take on all challengers when the writers gather to vote in a new executive at the Abuja Convention.

Dr. Agada was voted in as President for a two-year term at the Minna convention in 2009 and is in the running for a second term as the number one writer in the country.