ANLCA Election: Igbo Maritime Practitioners Directs Members to Boycott Yoruba Chairmanship Candidates

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Flowing from the resolution made by the Oodua Maritime that no Igbos candidates would be voted into Chairmanship position in the forthcoming chapter elections of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) has retaliated by asking its members to use their licenses and vote only Igbo candidates.

Secretary General of ASIMPIN, Prince Okey Egbuchulam in a chat with DAILY TREND on Monday, said the association has appealed to the igbo licence owners to schedule their program for the forthcoming election on 20th February, 2025 to accommodate the election, and to ensure they come out enmass to vote only Igbo candidates.

“The people we are in their land, took the same decision and announced it when one of their brothers was campaigning for Chairmanship at KLT Chapter. The Oba of Ijora came out and said it was their decision that no Igbo man should be made chairman, no matter how much they have worked.

“Based on that, the President of our association, Eze Damian Obianigwe directed that I should inform our members who have licenses registered, to help redeem our own candidates who are vying for the election

“They should vote Igbo candidates, no matter who they are or where they are coming from, so long they are Igbo candidates” he said

In an earlier message circulated, the ASIMPIN Scribe had wrote “Consequent upon the comments accredited to the oba of ijora who stipulated the OODUA RESOLUTION of not allowing any member of IGBO descent to win any Chairmanship position in the forth coming ANLCA chapter elections no matter how hard they have worked and how much they have spent, I have the mandate of our amiable PRESIDENT GENERAL HRH EZE (AMB.) SIR D. E. OBIANIGWE Ezeoha Obi of isi-ihite Owerri, Imo State to passionately appeal to our brothers who registered Licences that will vote, to please ensure that they cast their votes to aspirants of IGBO DESCENT.

“We appeal to the licence owners to not only schedule their program of 20th February, 2025 to accommodate the election but ensure they come out en mass to vote our candidates.

“Remember our slogan ” NDIGBO! ONYE AGHALA NWANNE YA” (Meaning, don’t leave your brother behind)
Where there are two igbo candidates aspiring for one position in any chapter, you can make your choose out of the two” the association directed.

Recall that the resolution by the Oodua Maritime which was announced by its President, Chief Oye Ariyo at a campaign programme recently, had sparked reactions from industry practitioners who condemned the statement.

The Oodua Maritime have however insisted that Western Zone Chairmanship seats belong to the Yorubas, just as no Yoruba descents are not allowed to hold chairmanship position in the eastern zone of the association.

The Oodua Maritime has however stressed that, Igbos are free to contest any other position from Vice Chairman downwards, but that Chairmanship position is exclusive for sons of the soil.