HAJIA FARIDA MUHAMMED’S HISTORIC VISIT TO ANA OSUN: UNITING WRITERS AND SHAPING ANA'S FUTURE

Hajia Farida's visit to ANA Osun yesterday was not only historic but also praiseworthy. She is a well-known figure in ANA, with an impressive track record of service. She previously held the position of Vice Chairman in ANA Niger and later assumed the role of Chairman for the same chapter. Her dedication and commitment to ANA led her to become the National Treasurer during Denja Abdulahi's leadership. In 2020, she achieved another milestone when she was elected as the Vice President of ANA in an emergency election organized by the association's highest governing body. She is now in her second term, continuing to contribute significantly to ANA's growth and success.

It's worth noting that the outgoing President of ANA, Camillus Ukah, had previously undertaken a similar visit in 2019 when Mr. Muriola Awosemo served as the Chairman of ANA Osun. However, the leadership of ANA Osun, led by Mr. Muriola Awosemo, later aligned themselves with Barr. Ahmed Maiwada, leaving Wole Adedoyin as the sole supporter of Camillus in the entire ANA Osun chapter.

Some candidates hold the belief that visiting ANA Osun is an inefficient allocation of their time and resources. They argue that the state lacks significant electoral influence in the upcoming ANA Presidential election.

Hajia Farida Muhammed's visit to Osun State yesterday brought significant positive changes to the chapter. Her presence had a transformative impact in several ways. Firstly, it resulted in Dr. Femi Ademiluyi attending the meeting, marking his first appearance since the contentious events of 2019 witnessed in Enugu. Secondly, her presence fostered unity within ANA Osun. According to Dr. Femi Ademiluyi, the former Chairman of ANA Osun, Mr. Muriola Awosemo, had the intention to attend the meeting but was unable to do so due to logistical constraints, and he conveyed his sincere apologies.

For those familiar with the dynamics of ANA Osun, Dr. Femi Ademiluyi holds a prominent position in the chapter. Not only was he the founding Chairman of ANA Osun, but he also served as the National Publicity Secretary during the presidency of the Late Alhaji Abubakar Gimba and as National Treasurer during the presidency of Professor Olu Obafemi. It was a pleasure to have the former Deputy Rector of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, present at yesterday's meeting.

The Caretaker Chairman of ANA Osun, Mrs. Nikeagbeja Adesanya, took the floor to extend a warm welcome to Hajia Farida Muhammed and Dr. Femi Ademiluyi, opening the meeting with gracious words. She proceeded to provide the attendees with an overview of the meeting's purpose and expressed her appreciation to Hajia Farida for choosing to bring her campaign to Osun.
In a similar spirit, Dr. Femi Ademiluyi commended Hajia Farida Muhammed for her decision to enter the ANA presidential race, noting that no female writer had previously attempted such a feat. He emphasized the historical significance that would accompany the election of a female writer to the highest position within ANA. Dr. Femi Ademiluyi then shared insights from his experience in ANA politics, recounting the strategies and dynamics during the presidencies of Mallam Abubakar Gimba and Prof. Olu Obafemi.
He highlighted the pivotal roles played by notable figures such as Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof. Olu Obafemi, Odia Ofeimun, Dr. Wale Okediran, and Denja Abdulahi in ANA's development and growth. Dr. Femi Ademiluyi advised Hajia Farida Muhammed to actively engage with these influential figures, seeking their support and counsel. Furthermore, he encouraged her to build relationships with ANA leaders in various state chapters to bolster her campaign.
Additionally, Mr. Femi Omoniyi, the Caretaker Secretary of ANA Osun, expressed his appreciation to Hajia Farida for choosing to launch her campaign within the ANA Osun chapter. He remarked that her presence in Osun signified her genuine intentions for the chapter's welfare. Mr. Omoniyi also addressed the issue of reconciling ANA factions within the state, noting that a reconciliation committee had been established and was actively working towards reuniting the disaffected members with the larger ANA Osun community.
In a further effort to promote reconciliation, Mr. Femi Omoniyi encouraged Dr. Femi Ademiluyi to leverage his influence and resources to support the reconciliation committee's efforts in reintegrating the aggrieved members into the mainstream ANA Osun.
Hajia Farida Muhammed was allotted an hour to address the gathering and share her vision for ANA should she assume the role of President. With her customary eloquence, she presented her background and qualifications to the assembly. Subsequently, she elaborated on her comprehensive four-point agenda, which encompassed:
1. Inclusive Governance: She emphasized the importance of an all-inclusive approach to ensure the smooth running of the association.
2. Human Capital Development: Hajia Farida stressed the need to invest in the development of ANA's human resources, recognizing that people are a valuable asset.
3. Infrastructure Enhancement: She discussed her plans for improving the association's infrastructure to provide a better platform for ANA's activities.
4. Revenue Generation: Hajia Farida highlighted her strategies for generating revenue to sustain and support ANA's initiatives and growth.
Her presentation offered a clear roadmap for her potential presidency, outlining her commitment to strengthening ANA on multiple fronts.
Wole Adedoyin, the former National Publicity Secretary of ANA, who now holds the position of ex-officio member, expressed his gratitude to Hajia Farida for choosing to launch her campaign within the state. He also extended his appreciation to Dr. Femi Ademiluyi for responding to his invitation and attending the emergency meeting. In a notable announcement, Adedoyin declared his intention to contest a new position in the upcoming ANA National election, with further details to be disclosed in the latter part of this article. The meeting was well-attended by other prominent members of the Association.