ANLCA Election: ASIMPIN, Oodua Maritime Forge Alliance, Endorses Sonniel Onochie for Tin Can Chapter Vice Chairman, Franky Paul, Secretary

—Eze Damian, Farinto, Akintoye, Others Pledge Full Support

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The chapter elections into the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is gaining momentum, even as two pressure gropus; the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) and the Oodua Maritime, have come together to give their endorsement for Chief Sonniel Onochie to become the next vice chairman of the Tin Can Island chapter, while Franky Paul Nwegbe is the chapter Secretary.

Recall that Prince Wale Cole, the most favored candidate for the Chairmanship seat of Tin Can chapter, is working as a team with Sonniel Onochie and Franky Paul.

Speaking when the campaign train visited his office in Apapa on Monday, the President General of ASIMPIN, Eze Damian Emeka Obianigwe blessed both candidates and urged all Igbo descendants in the clearing profession, to cast their votes for Onochie and Franky Paul, in the election holding 20th of February 2025.

Also speaking, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of ASIMPIN, Dr Eugene Nweke admonished both candidates to ensure they provide leadership that would drive international trade at the port, and to depart from the mediocre style of running associations at the port.

“Today, this election process is a step to move, because Oodua and Igbo maritime relationship has come a long way, what we are trying to project is not association leadership as usual, No, we have moved beyond as usual. Why? Because the maritime environment is very dynamic.

“We are looking forward to leadership of a chapter that is well informed, Leadership that will be driven by the nitty-gritty and understanding of this profession.
When you argue your job, argue professionally, because you are informed, not begging.

“Enough of giving money where you are not supposed to give money. We want to see leadership that is represented, not one that is just going to wake up.

“So, the alliance between the Oodua and the Igbo maritime is for a purpose, to retrieve, to secure, to project, and to promote the freight forwarding profession in the maritime industry. So it’s not just about election.

“Election is a process of trying to get leadership. But for us, leadership must evolve on three bases, Capacity to lead, the Integrity to lead, and the viability and understanding of the job, that is the driving force of what we are trying to do.

“To that effect, today, the 10th day of February, in the year 2025, His Royal Majesty, our PG, endorses the candidature of Sonniel Onachie as the Vice-Chairman aspirant, and by the grace of God, become elected” Dr Nweke declared.

Continuing, Dr Nweke who is also the Secretary of the Customs Consultative Council (CCC) acknowledged the presence of the Vice President of Oodua Maritime, Ojo Peter Akintoye, the former Acting President of ANLCA, Dr Kayode Farinto and a former Board of Trustees (BOT) member of ANLCA, Eniola Igbaroola.

Dr Nweke said these are people that ASIMPIN would love to give awards, for understanding brotherhood, and handshake across the Niger.

While continuing to address the two contestants, Dr Nweke said “Onochie, collectively, ASIMPIN is saying, Go, don’t conquer, but gather, nurture, progress, and develop.

“On behalf of ASIMPIN Nigeria, on behalf of our PG, the board, and the national officers, we will not only make statements, but we will follow statements with action, that is why before you came, the PG has made a very big announcement in support of, financially, and those of you who witnessed the blessing here, a king drinks from a glass and gave to the two contestants and prayed for them, that is the height of blessing.

“What we are looking forward to is international trade, and i would always say this to anybody who cares to listen, if you don’t have any interest in trade, stay away, but if you have trade interest, then you are welcome.

“For Wale Cole, Sonniel Onachie and the Secretary, Franky Paul, we expect a paradigm shift from what Tin Can used to be in terms of leadership, a new era, where ICT will drive your process.

“We must drive a change, it is either we drive this change at this point in time, or we are off from this profession. But we can’t go off from this profession.

“Ours is to give blessing, we are not decider of what happens at the polls, but there is what we we call, accord concordia. It’s that process of accord concordia, that we have driven, You go with this accord and the almighty will be with you” he said

Also speaking, Oodua Maritime Vice President, Ojo Peter Akintoye assured that the yoruba practitioners at Tin Can Port chapter would deliver their full votes for Sonniel and Franky Paul

“By what we have seen here today, it is now confirmed that Sonniel Onochie and Frank are the candidates of the Igbo land.
Some people in ANLCA today have paid their dues, and I thank God that Sonniel is among them, including Frank, who is a young and vibrant man that we can be proud of in our profession, they deserve to be given a chance.

“The only candidates we have for Vice Chairman and Secretary at Tin Can chapter are; Sonniel Onochie and Frank Paul. I am saying this on behalf of Oodua Maritime, which I am representing, we shall deliver the two of them in the election, we would come back here after the elections to celebrate” Akintoye declared.