ANLCA Election: Emenike Promises to Expand National Secretariat to Abuja
Mr Emenike Nwokeoji (3rd from right) standing up to address the members of Apapa chapter during his presidential campaign in Apapa on Wednesday
…As Organic Crowd Welcomes Campaign Team At Apapa, KLT Chapter, Pledges Licensed Votes
By DAPO OLAWUNI
Leading Presidential Aspirant in the forthcoming elections into the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Mr Emenike Nwokeoji has assured members that within the first year of his emergence in office, the association would establish an extention of its National Secretariat in Abuja.
Emenike stated this when the campaign team tagged “The Restoration Team” (Emenike Nwokeoji-Segun Oduntan, ENSO) visited two major ports in Lagos on Wednesday, KLT Terminal and Apapa Premier Port.
Emenike boasted that during his tenure as Vice President to former ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, the association campaigned with a promise of the ANLCA national secretariat in Lagos and this was achieved.
He assured that the association under his watch would further complement this by expanding to the seat of power in Abuja.
“I don’t like using the word permanent office because, if the association moves the way it should, we can get a place bigger than that our secretariat. As a matter of fact, our programme is that we would have an office in Abuja so that it would be easy for us to communicate with the Headquarters (Customs)
“We would be able to have the Comptroller-General to commission that secretariat in our first one year in office. God’s willing, we would do this, and when we come around, please ask us, within the past one year, what have we done” he said
Emenike took a swipe at his opponent, Dr Kayode Farinto who has been Vice President to Hon Tony Iju Nwabunike for the past five years of the outgone ANLCA notional executives.
“Somebody cannot stay in office for the past five years and still be coming here to share you his manifesto, he should come and tell you what he has been able to achieve in five years, not what he is going to do.
When we get there in the first one year, ask us what we have been able to do, so that you can hold us responsible” Emenike told members at the KLT Chapter while soliciting for their licences and votes.
While campaigning at the Apapa chapter, Emenike urged members to vote for his restoring team, saying that this is the only hope ANLCA has at this time, after being in crisis for the past five years.
“When we campaigned during my time with Prince Shittu, we promised that association would move into our own permanent site and that is what we have done.
“We took a lot of people outside the country for training during our tenure. However due to lack of leadership in the past five years, we have even lost membership of these international bodies.
“In 2007 we were among the people that crafted the CRFFN Act and it came to fruition. I read it in the papers that somebody said we don’t need it anymore.
“The first pioneer Chairman of that council was a member of ANLCA. Today because people don’t know what it takes for that council to function effectively, they jumped into it and took positions for their personal interest.
“It would interest you to know that the Chairman and members of the Training Committees of the CRFFN are members of ANLCA, what have they used that position to do? How many people have they used the position to train” he said
While reacting to reports of creation of a Customs Brokers Institution which his opponent, Dr Kayode Farinto promised when he also campaigned in Apapa on Tuesday, Emenike rubbished the idea, urging members to regard it as an empty promise.
“Customs brokers Council is alien to our nomenclature, what is the guarantee that what happened in CRFFN would not happen to this one you are proposing.
“If you check the vehicle they came with to campaign to you here, it is with an inscription of CRFFN Monitoring and Training, and yet you are here to promise people that you are going to train who? Show us the people you have trained in the past five years” he said
Also speaking, the Vice Presidential candidate, Prince Segun Oduntan called on the Igbos’ in ANLCA to rise up and support one of their own who is running for the exalted office of ANLCA President.
“This is another opportunity for the Indigbo, we are giving it to you to make your choice and support your brother, you should know where your vote is going, it must be for the Restoration Team.
This is the team that knows the job, the team that would restore the glory of this profession ” Oduntan declared
Speaking earlier at KLT Chapter where he is the seating chairman, the Chairmanhip candidate for Western Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Goddy Sewa Soleji said the ENSO Restoration Team is canvassing support of ANLCA members who have valid practising Licenses.
“Our main reason for coming here today is to solicit for your votes, this restoration team is coming to restore back the lost glory, dignity, peace and love that exists among ANLCA members nationwide”
On his part, the Assistant National Secretary candidate, Nze Theodore Ejezie recounted his experiences with Emenike Nwokeoji, describing him as a builder of men, and that he is overqualified to bring ANLCA back to its winning ways.
“I first met him as a chapter chairman in Onne in 2002 during his first tenure, you can imagine the experience between then and now, which is about 22-years ago.
“He mentored all of us in Onne Port, I am living witness of those he mentored. Because of the way he handled the Onne Seaport chapter then, this was same year I purchased my clearing license, just because of his influence.
“So, joining this race is to give my support and work with him in restoring the lost glory of over five years ago in ANLCA.
“Any executive you see in Onne today were made by Mr Emenike Nwokeoji, we were all mentored by him. He has the charisma, I am giving you the testimony that we can never regret handing the leadership of ANLCA to this man, because he has it all, and he can lead us to a better ANLCA than what we have today” he said.
The ENSO campaign team was received by a large organic crowd that is unprecedented, even as they pledged their Licenses and votes for Emenike and his team.
The ANLCA campaign was also graced by various port stakeholders including the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) Apapa chapter, the Coordinator of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Chief Osita Patrick Chukwu among others.
The team also paid homage to the KLT Customs Area Controller and the Apapa Customs Area Controller.
The campaign team I expected to storm Tin Can Island Port and PTML Terminal today, Thursday.
