…As Labinjo denies existence of factional association
Following the inauguration of a new body known as the Ship owners’ Association of Nigeria (SOAN) a fortnight ago, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officer and Water Transport Senior Staff Association has described the development as unfortunate adding that Nigeria does not need two ship owners’ association now.
It will be recalled that a fortnight ago, a group of 22 aggrieved members of Indigenous Shipowners’ Association (NISA) following the outcome of the election that brought the NISA President, Capt. Niyi Labinjo to power broke away and formed a new association.
A prominent member of the association and Chairman, 2014 Planning Committee of the annual Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX), Mrs. Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi, who was elected 1st Vice President of the association in its first general election held on October 24, 2014 resigned without assuming office.
Emi Membere-Otaji and Emeka Ndu, who were elected Port Harcourt and Lagos Coordinators respectively also resigned from the positions.
But the President, Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Engr. Matthew Alalade stated that if NISA as small as it is could not manage its crisis, then it left much to be desired.
He noted that with this development, it would be difficult for the association to benefit from the government because the government would be skeptical about which group to deal with.
“We don’t need two associations now. It is unfortunate that it is like this. We have other associations that are related to these ship owners. We have NITOA (Nigerian Trawler Operators Association) that is the fishing industry, they had their own delegate conference and we did not hear of any issue”.
“And if our ship owners can start like this, they have not been up tone year in office, we don’t know what will unfold. Things like this are unfolding within three months, what will unfold within year, we don’t know yet. It is unfortunate such allegation is coming out that will tear the NISA apart”, he said.
Also reacting on the development, the President of the Nigerian Ship owners’ Association (NISA), Capt. Niyi Labinjo denied any iota of fractionalization of the association saying that the association was one and under one leadership.
He stated that those who formed the new association had only exercised their constitutional right to freedom of association adding that that did not make them to forfeit their membership of NISA.
According to him,” NISA is one; there is no faction in NISA. Those that floated the new association have freedom of association. That they formed a new association did not deny them membership of NISA or didn’t you hear it from them that they are still members of NISA? So it is freedom of association. I tell you again, NISA is one”.
