Aragbaye emerges GOMAN president, Teriba, others emerge executives

The election that ushered in new executives of Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), held at the God of Glory Christian, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos State, last week Friday has come and gone with members of the association charging its new leadership to remain committed to their new calling.

Delegates from various states across the country converged on the venue to decide who leads them for the next three years. Veteran gospel singers and other leading artistes in the gospel industry expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the election that lasted for more than six hours.

Candidates to each position came with much anticipation as they expressed their readiness to lead with the fear of God if they emerged winner.

Evangelist (Dr) Funmi Aragbaye emerged the president-elect with 47 votes and Femi Opalemo also emerged her Vice President.

Popular gospel artiste, Evangelist (Dr) Lanre Teriba, defeated Mr Adewale with 61 votes to emerge the Vice President West while Pastor Gabirel Ibikunke won the post of General Secretary with 60 votes.

Mr Paul Ayodele was elected Vice President, North; Pastor Psalmist emerged the Financial Secretary; Pastor Kayode Iyiola also emerged the Public Relation Officer (PRO); Evangelist Flourish Arowolo became the Treasurer; Prophet Isaac Ibitoye, Prayer Coordinator; Pastor Tunde Ayodele, Welfare 1; Evangelist Gbadiyan Yemi and Evangelist Niyi Ajade, Assistant Sectary,  were all unopposed.

Earlier in his speech, the immediate past president, Pastor Timi Orokoya, otherwise known as Telemi, thanked God for the grace for a successful tenure as the president of the association.

“Despite storms and challenges of my two terms of six years, I thank God for a successful safe landing. I have done my bit and I pray for the new leadership to succeed,” he said.

In her speech, the president-elect, Aragbaye, noted that there was no time to waste because work has begun. “I congratulate everyone, especially all the contenders. To me, there is no winner, no loser. We must all work together and give this association a facelift. We need the cooperation of the entire GOMAN in order to easily achieve  our goals. We will all project the image of the association beyond its present state. One of my priorities is to help the up-and-coming artistes.”

Teriba said that he was ready to bring change in the association and assured members, especially the younger ones, to have their footprint in the industry.

One of the elders of the association, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, congratulated the winners and GOMAN as a body on holding a peaceful election.

“I want to congratulate the entire executive and members of GOMAN, especially the outgoing executives led by Pastor Telemi Orokoya and the incoming executives led by Aragbaye on conducting a peaceful election as a respected body. I want to use this medium to advice the new leadership to work together with everybody in order to move the association forward,” he said.