ANLCA President Says Lack of Funds Delaying BOT Elections, Insists no ‘Crack’ in Association

…As Igbo Maritime Practitioners Pay Homage, Seek Inclusion in Emenike’s Govt

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The National President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Emenike Nwokeoji has said that fresh elections into its Board of Trustees (BOT) is being delayed due to lack of funds, adding that some ex-BOT members of the association has refused to give their signatures in order to regularise the accounts.

Emenike speaking with maritime journalists in his office on Thursday, after receiving a delegation of the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) led by its President General, Eze Damian Obianigwe, noted that there is no fresh crisis in ANLCA, adding that the association remains one big family.

According to Emenike “The reason why elections into the BOT has not taken place is just finance, up till this day, we don’t have access yet into some accounts and finance of the association. Some past BOT members refused to sign for us to regularise the accounts.

“However, on our own, we have taken that challenge upon ourselves because if it goes beyond now, it would look as if it is a deliberate action, we are going to do all within our powers to ensure that the elections is flagged off before the end of this month” he assured

The ANLCA President insisted that the association would ensure that its BOT is made up people of clout and power who would impact positively on the association.

Speaking further, he said “The elections calender, going by our constitution does not emanate from NECOM, it is between the BOT and ASECO.

“However, we are heading into a situation that was not envisaged by the authors of the constitution. For instance, the next election is that of the BOT, and ordinarily, one does not expect them to have a hand in the ASECO that would supervise their own elections. We would see how to work around it and ensure that NECOM plays a prominent role so that they don’t become a Judge in their own matter.

“I have challenged NECOM members on raising funds for the elections, we are exploring every avenue to ensure that it would not be too expensive for us, it is not going to be as fierce as that of the chapters.

“We are looking forward to a Board made up of people that have reach and clout, people that can open doors for us, they must be people that command respect and we too must respect what we have, and not subject them to spending money to become a board member”

When asked about reports making the rounds about the resignation of the Chairman of the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) Mr Alloy Nze Igwe, the ANCLA President said the resignation does not in anyway signify crisis in ANLCA.

“There is no place in the world where we have absolute peace, whatever is happening in ANLCA today is caused by the press. The news about ASECO Chairman is not worth a news to be celebrated.

“If some people expressed their grievances, it is their right, and if the ASECO Chairman resigns, that does not mean there is a crack in the association.
Because of how democratic we are, people are free to express themselves, it is normal in life, you can have little skirmishes, but the bottom line is that we are focused and we know where we are going, ANLCA is one big family” he insisted

Speaking on the visit of ASIMPIN, to the association secretariat, Emenike said that most tribes including the Arewa group, the Oodua Group have all been paid courtesy visit except the Igbos.

“Since we won elections six months ago, the Igbos have been looking for an appropriate day to come and pay solidarity visit to us and it happened today which happened to be the anniversary of our elections, exactly six months today, we were elected on 7th of September 2023.

“They made demands and pointed out that the Igbos are not properly represented in my team and that is should look for a way of balancing it” he said

Also speaking separately, Vice President of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan corroborated that funding is the only challenge delaying the BOT elections.
He also recalled that some members of the present BOT brought out their personal money to conduct the last NECOM elections.

Speaking on the limitations on the association accounts, he said there has been no accountability and what the present NECOM inherited was shameful.

“We want to conduct the Board elections so that the chapter elections can follow. The President is being magnanimous with the BOT elections, if not, he could have generated money from the sale of forms, he is more concerned in ensuring that people of integrity comes into the board” Oduntan stated.