ANLCA Crisis: Rafiu Ladipo Rally Ex-Presidents, Elders As Peace Moves Begin

By DAPO OLAWUNI

After three years of protracted leadership crisis in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) there are indications that genuine peace is about to be restored into the group, following latest moves by ANLCA pioneer president, Dr Rafiu Ladipo to reconcile the warring factions.

DAILY TREND NEWS gathered exclusively that Dr Ladipo has reached out to other past presidents of ANLCA including Dr Peter Okocha, and the crisis would be resolved soon.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent, Dr Rafiu Ladipo confirmed that he has reached out to the two parties, which is the Board of Trustees (BOT) led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and the Tony Iju led national executives.

According to Dr Ladipo, “The crisis in ANLCA has gone on for so long and it is not giving us any good image in the industry. Being the first National President of ANLCA, I have decided to wade into it, and I am already receiving corporation from both sides”

“My major concern is that we need peace in the house. I am in talks with the two groups, we want to broker this peace and reconcile them once and forall” he told our correspondent.

He agreed that the crisis has been allowed to linger for too long, he however said it is not too late to make peace.

Also speaking with DAILY TREND NEWS, Secretary of the registered BOT of ANLCA, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi confirmed that there are underground moves to restore peace in the association by Dr Rafiu Ladipo.

Prince Oyeniyi said the board is yet to meet to determine what its demands would be, but that one major factor to restoring peace in ANLCA is the acceptance and recognition of the registered BOT.

He also doubted if the peace moves would yield results, adding that the integrity of prominent members of the board have been bastardised by the NECOM.

A reliable source within the Taiwo Mustapha camp said that one major gladiator in the board who is also a former national president, Sir Ernest Elochukwu felt very insulted that, the NECOM could pronounce him expelled at a recent NEC meeting.

According the source stated that, Elochukwu could be a major factor is determining if the peace moves would succeed or not.

But speaking with our correspondent, the board Secretary, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi said “Actually, the peace move is ongoing, but unfortunately, when the head is off, the whole body is useless, these people have committed so many atrocities”

“Even if they are looking for genuine peace, how can a set of people gather in an hotel and say that the registered board has been expelled?

“Dr Ladipo is making peace moves but his moves may not yield much results because the integrity of people have been bastardised.

“Nobody is against the peace moves, he has reached out to me, but I told him that the peace is very simple, what makes an association is the board” he said

When he was asked what would be the demand of the registered BOT in the peace moves, Prince Oyeniyi said “I am not the only board member, and if I say anything now, it could be misconstrued as the position of the board.
The board is yet to meet and look at what is on the table”

“The only thing that I can say conveniently which is the mind of the board is that, the genesis of this crisis is non-recognition of the board cum leadership” he said

Also speaking with our correspondent exclusively, another gladiator in the leadership crisis who was the former BOT Chairman, Chief Henry Njoku said he is aware of the peace moves, even as he commended Dr Ladipo for the efforts.

He said “I have heard about it, but he (Dr Ladipo) has not reached me, and I don’t have any issue with those people, I am no longer in the same shoes with them, so if they want to speak, it would be their Board versus Board

“I am aware of the peace moves and this is very good. If there is anything that would bring peace into ANLCA, I don’t have any problems with it

“The only thing I know is that nobody is above the law, if you do something wrong, you can as well apologise to your members, likewise if I do anything wrong, I can apologise to my members, that is the only way to move forward.

“We cannot remain in power forever, we are growing old, and we are looking at the younger ones coming onboard

“Sometimes ago, I was a chairman, I was a zonal chairman, I was vice chairman, I was ASECO Chairman, I have been BOT Chairman, and today I am the Patron, you can see that we are gradually going and we must give the younger ones opportunity to grow too, and what we impact on them is what they would remember us by” he said

Tracing the genesis of the crisis in ANLCA, Chief Njoku said this was a minor issue that should ordinarily not cause problems.

“Looking at it from the beginning, election was conducted, and you are asking me to step down as board chairman because an Igbo won election as National President

“When Elochukwu was ANLCA President, was I not the BOT Chairman? why didn’t the tribe thing come in then? All they needed to do what wait for our tenure to elapse, and they have a chance to recontest

“As we speak, the National Executive tenure is running, we are looking at four to five years, and before you know it, the five years is over, so what are we killing ourselves for?

“In the industry, we need peace, we need to move and speak as one voice, so for me, anything that would restore peace in ANLCA, I am part of it” Chief Njoku stated.