ANLCA Election: Emmanuel Onyeme, Picks Form to Contest for National Publicity Secretary

…Gets 100% Backing of Young Practitioners

…ASECO Chairman Speaks on Constitutional Issues, AGM for Election Purpose

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Former Public Relations Officer of Tin Can Island Port of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Mr Emanuel Onyeme on Friday, May 26th 2023 obtained a nomination form to contest the post of National Publicity Secretary (NPS) in the forthcoming elections into the association.

Onyeme had done two terms as Public Relations Officer of Tin Can Chapter of ANLCA, first under late Kayode Oyinlola and second term under Prince Segun Oduntan.

Meanwhile, scores of youths and young practitioners who escorted Mr Onyeme to the ANLCA National Secretariat on Friday pledged their 100 support for him to emerge as next image maker of the association.

Speaking with DAILY TREND, one of them, Mr Emeka Efi Okonkwo lauded Oyeme for his ability to occupy the post of NPS, haven rose through the ranks at chapter level and always projecting the image of ANLCA in the media and to the public.

“We need people that knows the job, when we talk about compentcy, Emmanuel Onyeme is equal to the task. We have a new ANLCA which is more about the youths, they know what it takes to move the industry forward.

“It is not about him haven served two tenures at Tin Can Chapter alone, this is where the game is now, his coming out now is to take ANLCA back to what it used to be.
We are 100% sure of victory because we know his capacity, we know that it takes to lead” he said

The youth also expressed confidence in the current crop of Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) headed by Chief Aloy Nze Igwe and the guidelines issued for towards the election.

“We believe in the current ASECO, we believe in the new ANLCA, the crisis have come and gone, we have learnt our lessons, we know where the problems started, and we would not allow such problems to arise again” Efi Okonkwo stated

Also speaking with our correspondent, another young practitioner, Mr Tope Cole, Chief Executive Officer of Samodic Autos Nigeria Limited described Emmanuel Onyeme as more competent among all other candidates.

“I have been in the industry for over two decades and when we talk about people that can represent the interest of freight forwarders and project ANLCA, I can vouge for Mr Emmanuel Onyeme, he is more capable among other contestants.

“He is a root member of ANLCA, he is down to earth.
Already, he has assumed the role of Publicity Secretary because he is representing the clearing agents on the EFCC forum which is federal level.

“We are the youths of ANLCA and we can tell who is who, I used to be the Cordinator of Port and Cargo at Tin Can Port some years back, and anytime we call upon Onyeme, he helps us trash several issues, even when the so-called Chairmen of Chapter would not show up.

“As the association is gradually trying to get it’s footing back after the crisis, I want us to be very careful on the kind of leaders we want to elect, because if the foundation is not well built, the house can collapse at anytime” Tope Cole said

Meanwhile, the ASECO Chairman, Chief Aloy Nze Igwe has charged all contestants in the forthcoming elections to shun campaign of calumny and rather focus on issue based campaigns.

While addressing Emmanuel Onyeme and his team of supporters, the ASECO Chairman said “I want you to be rest assured that this ASECO would make this association proud, so you can go ahead and campaign, one thing we don’t want is campaign of calumny, try and sell yourself to your members, do not dwell on individuals, this is what brought us to where we are right now”

While speaking with DAILY TREND in a separate interview, Aloy Nze Igwe allayed fears on whether the coming election would be done by collegiate or by Annual General Meeting (AGM).

He assured that the election would be done by AGM and that the Supreme Constitution of ANLCA would be used for the election.

Speaking he said “ANLCA has just one constitution, forget the fact that the crisis threw up a lot of agitations, this ASECO is taking care of whatever lapses that anybody might envisage, I can assure you that we are going to make use of the ANLCA Supreme Constitution that we have been using ab-initio.

“I wouldn’t want us to play politics with the issue of constitution, forget about mischief makers, the internal crisis has come and gone, whatever is left, this ASECO is taking care of it and set to deliver a credible election

Our correspondent reports that the NECOM election has been fixed tentatively for July 5th, 2023.

Speaking further, Aloy Nze Igwe explained reasons why the NECOM election has to come first before the chapter elections.

He said “Because of the crisis we have at the chapters, we think it is better we come up with the NECOM election first, so that, once we have the NECOM in place, we can return to the chapter.

“We started with the BOT, they have the power to supervise ASECO and they are the ones that set up this ASECO. They are going to supervise the NECOM, after which, we move to the chapters.

“NECOM election is going to be done by AGM, it is a matter of our constitution, people should read through the constitution and be rest assured” he said

Aloy Nze Igwe expressed satisfaction at the level of enthusiasm and commitment of ANLCA members towards the coming election, even as he revealed that so far, fifteen candidates have purchased forms for various offices.

“The process and commitment of members to the election has been very impressive, a lot of our people are coming back, I can’t believe that about fifteen people have picked forms and they are enthusiastic about it.

“We cannot be coming from a five years of uneccessary crisis and still be trying to escalate it again.
Let all candidates go and sell themselves, if you are a good product, you don’t need to abuse anybody, people would be clamoring for you” he concluded