TAMPAN presidency: Latin, Solade, others set to tackle Odule

With about six months to the national election of the Theatre and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), some top shots in the association are said to be seriously warming up for the presidency of the association currently occupied by Dele Odule.

While Odule, whose four-year tenure runs out in October has yet to declare his intention to run for a second term in office, information pieced together by R suggested that his return to the office may be threatened by the decision of some of the big wigs in the association to vie for the post.

The race, according to findings R, revealed that a popular comic actor, Bolaji Amusan, who currently serves as the association’s Director of Organisation and Business Strategy may soon throw his hat into the ring barring any twist in the current calculations by some major stakeholders within the association.

Also said to be jostling for the number one seat of TAMPAN is the veteran actor and one of the founding members of the association, Yemi Solade, said to be making quiet moves within and outside the association that would increase his chances of clinching the number one spot come October.

Further investigation confirmed that, while electioneering ban has not been lifted by the board of trustees of the association, wide consultations were going on among some of the contenders with each of them holding meetings with key members of the association.

When contacted by R to react to the rumour of his interest in the presidency of the association, Solade confirmed the bid adding that he remained the man to beat in the race.

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“Let me confirm to you that I am going to contest for the position of the president of TAMPAN. I am the one, who founded the association and I could have run for the position of president in the first year, but I conceded to Dele because I felt he could do a good job. I have been an actor for 41 years and I have what it takes to lead TAMPAN,” he said.

Also speaking on the development, Mr Latin in a telephone conversation said as a responsible member of the association, was qualified to run for the position of the president, adding that as much as he would love to lead the association, “it would not be a do-or-die affair.

“I am qualified to be the president but I have not made up my mind to contest. There can’t be leadership without followership, so I will have to consult my people, both the senior and junior colleagues. I can aspire to be the president just like any other responsible member can contest, but it is not yet time for campaigns. When the time is right, I will inform you,” he said.

In his reaction to the claim that his re-election bid was being threatened, Odule, said he was proud of his achievements in office in four years and may choose to run for another term or move on into something bigger.

The veteran actor maintained that he remained a happy man because the association had made a remarkable progress, especially in the area of human capacity development, adding that TAMPAN had become a household name in the theatre industry in Nigeria and have held two conventions with the third one coming up soon.

“Yemi Solade and Latin are qualified members of the association and could run for the position of the president if they wish but I have not said I would not contest. I hope to have a building that would be referred to as TAMPAN house before the expiration of my tenure. I hope we can achieve this before I leave office in October,” Odule said.