Like I said earlier, the postponement has multifaceted factors, one cannot really pin point at a particular reason. But the government, being alive with its responsibilities, having all security information within and without, will always have reasons for its actions, which always tends for the good and wellbeing of greater number.
Therefore, it is a constitutional obligation of the government to act swiftly on matters with essential security concerns as it deems fit. I did a cross check as to reasons for the postponement. I had professional discussions with friends from other similar professions, in this regards.
My opinion, being that, it is possible that, aside from the petitions to the upper authorities, insinuated court actions by one of the factional association leadership , challenging the inclusion of the other faction in the election, serial press reports, personal reach out by some prominent individuals in the industry, etc. I think, the most disturbing of all that prompted a security report, may be, is against the backdrop that the present administration’s policy thrust is anchored and reputed for “change mantra”.
It goes well to say that, a sensitive government of the day should be concerned with the monetary spending for a professional governing board election, as being reported in the media as running into hundreds of millions of naira. While as the government on its part did not spend a dime nor received a kobo from any lobbyists for an appointment into the board, yet it has appointed 17 already seated members in the governing council.
The Government having the understanding and expectations that professionals shall be elected to join the government appointees to help in formulating regulations that will boost /improve the freight logistics chains in the transport industry and to fast track the actualization of the intended professional reforms of the Government; wetting grounds/ promote the exchange and transfer of professional expertise and technology; and in addition propels the acceleration of government revenue, occasioned via the enthronement of professionalism in freight forwarding sub sector of the economy.
In view of the emerging scenario and to forestall administrative derail in the near future, Government thinking and worries now hangs on, if elected professionals are spending this hundreds of millions ( with a clear propelled mindset of investment into later harvest) to be elected into the council, from where do they recoup their investment from, within just two years tenure?
Government taking a cue from what transpired in the first council election and the performances therefrom, seems to be aghast, disturbed as to what manner of regulations will emanate from such professional profit oriented investors now doubling as governing council members, in this case, may be, without losing sight to its objectives, the intendment of the Act 16, 2007, comes beckoning, wherefore, government seemingly had a rethink.
Again, it is also possible that, with the ailing pockets of security threats here and there, it behooves on the government, to revisit and screen the background of individual coming into the count, to avoid opening itself for an infiltration by the oppositions to cause or wreck undue havoc under insider dealings arrangement, resulting to the embarrassments of the government in the future.
So, the whole drama as its playing out gives government room for further reconsiderations.
I presume, in the weeks ahead, everything will be sorted out for the election to hold, hence, government has collected monies from the practitioners for the purpose of conducting a professional election and it can’t continue to keep the appointed representatives waiting & idling away while the process is stagnated and the freight forwarding industry suffers. Government shall indeed expedite actions to realign the freight forwarding profession.
These are my singular opinion.
And to further buttress that I and Dr. Ikokide never petitioned any authority following the metamorphosis leading to our disqualification – like I said before, while I will not be swayed, nor bury my leadership aspirations, yet it is not a do or die affairs. I only prayed for the will of God to prevail.
I do hope I have conveniently used this medium to provide answers to the several calls /chat messages by you the press core, my professional colleagues and supporters, desiring and itching to know, why the governing council election was postponed for a later date unannounced. It all means that, nobody knows reasons why the postponement, except as one may adduce or allude to, like I have done.
This is without prejudice, please.
Thanks.
Nweke Ifeanyichukwu Eugene
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