ANLCA Chapter Election: Oba of Ijora Says No Igbos Must be Voted into Chairmanship Positions in West

—-Throws Weight Behind KLT Chapter Chairmanship Aspirant, Ahmed Olajide

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The upcoming elections into various chapters of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has taken a new dimension even as the Oodua Maritime Forum has insisted that only Yoruba aspirants would be Voted into Chairmanship positions.
This position was also echoed on Wednesday by the Oba of Ijora Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Fatai Oyeyinka Aremu Aromire (Oyegbemi ll) during the campaign flag-off of the KLT Chairmanship aspirant of ANLCA, Ahmed Olajide Bello

The Oba who was represented by one of this whitecap chiefs, Chief Akogun of Ijora and Apapa Kingdom stated categorically that Igbos and other tribes must not be Voted in as Chairman of any chapter in the West.

He threw his weight behind the ANLCA KLT Chapter Chairmanship Aspirant, Alhaji Ahmed Olajide Bello, urging all association members to give him their full support and backing.

“We are not a member of your group, but we are original members of your group because you are on our land.
What you are doing today had happened during the last governorship election in Lagos, we the White cap chiefs and the Oba, knows the role we played in order to win what belongs to us.
What you cannot accept or condone in your own state, it is impossible for you to come to Lagos and try it.

“I want to appeal to you all, the message Kabiyesi asked me to tell you, is that you should vote in our son, Ahmed Olajide Bello, he is the King’s son, and one of the Chiefs at the Palace. He is a good son, he would deliver on his mandate and perform excellently well for us all, we should all follow him.

“I want to tell my other brothers (Easterners), we are not fighting anybody, we are friends, without you from the East, there is no Lagos, but don’t think because of this, you would step on my toes as son of the soil, I would not take it.

“For most of you guys from the East, if you go to Alaba or Ojo Local Government, if we are holding any elections and we don’t make somebody from East as Deputy Chairman, we cannot succeed. We are doing so because we cannot send you away.

“However on this one Election that we are talking about, you must follow what the Yorubas are saying and not misbehave.

“The Igbo people and people from the East are my best friends, my second wife is Chinyere, she lives in Festac, but I would not because of the love I have for you and betray my brother” the Ojora concluded.

Also speaking, the President of Oodua Maritime, a pressure group within ANLCA, Chief Oye Ariyo said the stance of the Yorubas on the forthcoming ANLCA Chapter Election is not out of quarrel or hatred for the Igbos in the association, but that same practice that is being done in the Eastern chapters needs to be reciprocated in the West.

“We don’t have any quarrel with anyone. They have done it in the East, we don’t have a single Yoruba man or Hausa holding positions in the East, we want to practice the same here, and that is why we have insisted that we don’t want any other tribe in all our chapters in the Western Zone, and that is how it would be.

“We are not saying they won’t hold any positions here, but we shall give them positions that befits them.

“All our Yoruba sons currently standing for elections are all capable and they are youths, it is the youths that can do it right now and they would all emerge winner” Ariyo stated

He urged all Oodua members to ensure their vote is casted for Ahmed Olajide Bello as Chairman of KLT Chapter.

Continuing, he said “I have been on this job for forty years, in the East, I don’t see any yoruba man becoming Chairman, even the smallest position as Assistant Secretary is not given to them.

On Election day, make sure that you vote for only Yoruba candidates and their friends”

On his part, the Patron of ANLCA, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi said the Yorubas are going to make a statement with the forthcoming chapter elections of ANLCA in the Western Zone.

“We are going to make a statement with the coming elections of ANLCA into the Western Zone.

“As the Patron of ANLCA in the federation, I have a home, it is what my ancestral home wanted that I would abide by, all the contestants in the Western Zone are my children, but I have a mission, ANLCA is a big organisation, we have the North, East and West.

“When the Oodua that spreads to almost eight states of the federation has made a statement, that statement would stand.
We are not quarrelling with anybody. As far as we have made the decision in our caucus meeting, so shall it be.

Oyeniyi however assured that the coming elections shall be seamless and peaceful.

The ANLCA Sole Administrator for KLT Chapter, Mr Kehinde Alata solicited support for the Chairmanship aspirant, Ahmed Olajide Bello, saying that he is the right man for the job.

“I am part of this campaign organisation before I was nominated to be Sole Administrator of the chapter. I want to know that what we need here in KLT is the revival of our jobs here, the last time we had the best administration here was during tenure of Abiodun Ogunfowora as Chairman and that of Bayo Oyekangun.

“Today, all our terminals are dry, but we believe that when the new administration comes in, KLT Command is going to be a better place and all our terminals would be full.

“We used to have people coming from other chapters to work here before, but it is not the same again. With the emergence of Ahmed Olajide Bello, KLT would return as Port of destination” he assured

Also speaking, a former Chairman of the KLT chapter and former Secretary of the ANLCA Baord of Trustees, Alhaji Bayo Oyekangun urged members to eschew violence in the coming chapter elections.

He described the Aspirant as a man that has the feeling of the pains of practicing agents at the chapter and he is ready to make an impact.

He urged the executives to ensure they serve the people expecially with terminal operators, shipping companies and Customs.

“You must have time for those people that voted you into power, you are executives and Chairman for everybody and not for just few particular groups, you must be a good ambassador for the chapter” he said

On his part, the KLT Chapter Chairmanship aspirant, Ahmed reeled out his manifestos and a seven point agenda which includes transparency in Operations

He pledged to ensure transparency in Chapter dealings, providing members with clear, accessibe information about decisions, financials, and procedures.

On enhanced member trainings, Bello said “I will advocate for frequent high quality training sessions to update our members on the latest customs regulations, technology, and best practices in clearing and forwarding.

“In the area of Networking and Partnerships: I aim to strengthen our network by fostering partnerships with terminal operators, shipping lines, and other logistics stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reduce member costs.

“On Member Support Services: Establishment of a support service or helpline for our members facing challenges with customs, documentation, or legal issues, providing expert advice and assistance where needed.

“Inclusive Membership: we shall promote diversity within the chapter, encouraging younger professionals, Women, and underrepresented groups to join and take leadership roles.

“Conflict Resolution: We shall provide mechanisms for mediation and conflict resolution among our members to maintain harmony and cooperation.

“Feedback Mechanism: We shall implement a robust system for memb«s feedback on association activities, ensuring that the chapter evolve based on the needs and suggestions of its members”