Igbo Maritime Practitioners Disgusted At Obianigwe’s “Biometric Capture” Excuse for not Conducting Election in 12-Years

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Igbo Maritime Forum of Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) has expressed utter disgust and dissatisfaction at the flimsy excuse tendered by its National President, Eze Damian Obianigwe for not conducting elections into the National Executive Committee in 12-years.

Obianigwe through his media aids had last week explained that challenges of biometric data capture was responsible for the delay in conducting the much awaited elections.

In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by the Chairman of the ASIMPIN Elders Forum, Chief Boniface Okoye and its Secretary, Chief Osita Patrick Chukwu, the group lamented that Obianigwe elected for a 2-years tenure in office, but he has remained for 12-years.

The Elders also lampoon’s the Vice President of ASIMPIN, Prince Ozo Chukwura for not offering leadership when needed. They argued that Prince Chukwura failed to rise up and caution the President in the face of his “seat tight” government and tenure elongation.

The statement reads “We the elders of the Igbo Maritime Forum of ASIMPIN are hereby writing to register our utter disgust at the state of our formerly revered Association.

“We choose Prince Ozo Chukwura about fourteen years ago as a well grounded maritime professional to help guide the president general in sheepherding this Association to greatness, but have all noted with displeasure, the seemingly unshakable bad support that his has accorded the president general, His Royal Majesty, Ambassador Damian Obianigwe who has not shown good leadership and has not added much value to the Association.

“It is also on record that Chief Obianigwe was voted to serve a two year tenure, but has now spent almost fourteen years with illegal elongated twelve years to himself at the position.

“These have happened with the unflinching support of Prince Ozo Chukwura the deputy to the president general and all entreaties for him, to guide the president general and grant some good advice to him have not been heeded.

“We also want to state that the flimsy and illegitimate excuse of lack of biometrics capture by members for the conduct of an election is not tenable as it is unconstitutional as an indigenous association.

“We want you by this press release, to therefore make the right move towards having a free and fair election which we believe to take place with an efficient executive members to take over the mantle of leadership”