Court declares Ashaolu as ANTP president

It was jubilation galore at the camp of Comrade Victor Ashaolu when he was finally declared the president of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) by Justice Bolaji Yussuf of the High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday.
The leadership tussle of the association had been in contention as Ashaolu had dragged the association to court over who was the real president of ANTP.
Justice Yusuff dismissed the defence of ANTP as lacking in merit.
Yussuf said the 2005 ANTP’s Constitution, which Ashaolu based his case on, was valid as it was a document, unlike the words of some elders at a private meeting that attempted to scuttle Ashaolu’s presidency.
Yussuf, in her judgment, said “the 2005 constitution has not been amended and the 21 September, 2010 election was lawfully and legally conducted.”
The court premises, filled with a large number of ANTP members suspected to be sympathetic to Ashaolu, became a drama location of sort as these members, dressed in all white attire, lifted Ashaolu to the air in celebration.

Ashaolu, with Papa Lere Paimo, a.k.a Eda Onileola, jubilated as judgment was pronounced, while Dele Odule and some of his supporters, in dejected mood, filed out of the court premises quietly.
Speaking with R, Ashaolu  said  he had been telling other members of the association on the need to stand to fight for their right, but some did not take him serious, “but here we are today. God has been behind me to deliver ANTP from the wilderness.”
He called for peace among theatre practitioners, just as he appealed to the opposition to forget the past and work together for the future of ANTP.
He added that “this is an historic judgment. God, indeed, has made the truth prevail. I want to assure all members of the association that ANTP will experience a new dawn now.”
“My next plan is to restore the association. A reconciliation meeting will be held very soon. I believe we are all one. Neither Jide Kosoko nor Dele Odule and I have personal issues. It is not a bad thing for two people to contest for a position, but only one person would be elected. They said the election was not legal, but I stood and told them it was. That was the crux of the legal battle that has now been resolved,” he said.
 Former president of the association, Jimoh Aliyu, MFR, told R that the verdict would be a foundation of peace and a clear indication that elders should not be rubbished in any way.
“I am happy that the judgement favoured us because we had suffered a lot. Some members, including me, were sidelined from acting, yet we stood until the truth prevailed.
“Before now, as an elder of the association, I had told both parties to settle amicably and move the ANTP forward, but the other party neglected my advise, even as they called me Omo Ashaolu . At 78, how would I be Ashaolu’s errand person? I thank God today that the truth has been revealed,” Aliyu said.
He added that a prayer session would be organised to restore unity and harmony into the association.
In his statement, acting chairman of the association, Lere Paimo, popularly know as Baba Eda, said that he was pleased with the judgement and  that he would be glad to inform the former chairman, board of trustees, Dr Yemi Farounbi, of the court’s verdict.
When R asked on the future of his relationship with Kosoko and Odule, Eda claimed that he was not fighting with the duo and that he was ready to reconcile with them. “We will call them and it is left for them to heed our call.”
Former president of the association, Kosoko,  said that their lawyers, who are presently reviewing the judgement, would determine whether they would appeal  the judgement or not, just as he congratulated Ashaolu and Baba Eda on the victory.