By Eugene Nweke
The present leadership crisis bedeviling the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents – ANLCA, leaves its members confused and helpless and some critical stakeholders disappointed. On the basis of this, I owe it a mark of leadership responsibility, as a concerned stakeholder in the freight forwarding sub sector of the maritime industry, hence, my expressions and submission, herein.
I don’t intend to join in the ongoing blame games and the typical resort to sitting on the fence by some prominent individuals and elder statesmen who are in position to step into the lingering crisis and call concerned parties to a dispute resolution round table and nip contentious issues on the bud.
In what started as if leaders have lost their memory of “Old Glory”, exhibiting acts tantamount to betrayal of the sacrifices and contributions made by the founding fathers of the Association.
Both the elected Board members and the National Executive Council, have suddenly forgotten so soon their oath of allegiance to uphold the sanctity of the constitution and serve selflessly, overnight they had compromised the common understanding that, the association is the touchstone of our professional heritage and symbol of pride.
Today, the bond of camaraderie seems to be a “once upon a time”. Collectively, leaders are portraying themselves as parochialists, not being dynamic and pragmatic; never believe in making leadership compromises and sacrifices for the good of larger number and corporate well-being.
If what the association had been through or the prices certain past leaders paid most poignantly means anything to the both elected officers, obviously, early resort to the principle of reasonability and sacrifices will have been upheld before now, but this is not the case.
If truly the elected leaders understand much of the suffering, searing rage, pain and grief endured by past leaders, only then can they be considered as being “worthy of equal membership or opportunities” in the struggle yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Sound leaders lead with a visionary thoughts of “I have and know my ancestors; I must do something positive to those of whom I will be an ancestor to”. Such thoughts is never so with leaders who chose selfishness, hate and crisis over service, courtesy and peace.
How can it be said, that, leaders and members whom the association and the profession itself have bestowed with enormous prosperity and well-being, can no longer rise and be united in defense of corporate and professional interests, leaning on the path of truth, justices, sacrifices and peace for the collective prosperity of practitioners?.
How true is it that, no past leader is reckoned in this noble course; “profession of patriotism” among whom none has the temerity or stupidity as it were to speak the honest truth to erring leaders, that, they have betrayed leadership trust and raped the association’s essence making them to understand clearly or as a reminder to their face to face real time industry and professional challenges which ought to be their leadership mainstay and concern and not what is presently obtained?
Having taking out time to do a preview of the individual life time in the association dating back from 1995 to date, mostly of the ‘so called warring parties’ (leaders), without mentioning names, I want to honestly implore all of you to look inwards, to genuinely appreciate a common benevolence, which is that, the profession and ANLCA have been more than a blessing to all of you, especially, with regards to all your life attainments and accomplishment, which cannot be without, either directly or indirectly of the benefits from association or interests from the profession. So, the self-probing questions are: Am I still being moderated with my driven vision into leadership position? Is my role in the ongoing administrative differences still in consonance with my vision? Why can’t I pay or make the supreme sacrifice for its sustainability and future well-being? What leadership legacy do I intend to bequeath to the future leaders coming behind me? What I am agitating for, is it for my personal interests or collective interest, if properly defined in the right perspectives? Am I holding larger number of practitioners to ransom or is my actions and inactions robbing off on the emotions, professional well-being of the larger members of our practitioners?
Only you can proffer genuine answers to the above question and only you will counsel yourself on that which is right and honorable, no one else, but you.
It is on this note that I want to persuade the National President, to take responsibility for every misgivings thus far, be dispassionate and unsentimental in addressing issues squarely. A true friend to a leader is one whose actions will propel you to succeed and not to fail.
Gentlemen, professional colleagues and esteemed leaders of ANLCA, permit me to reinstate that, I write as one, who is not just a concerned stakeholder, but as a leader who in my time of service to the freight forwarders on the platform of NAGAFF, had a working relationship with the ANLCA platform under the leadership of the immediate past president.
Together we upheld and flew the flag of professional honor and integrity and in honor of those who share in what the value of professional honor and advancement stands for, above all bringing them to the height of professional pride.
Our preoccupation under a working joint initiative had been service with professional integrity, service with selfless – sacrifices and service to defend and protect the profession and members.
Though, we might not have met the whole expectations and satisfaction of all but the industry and respective associations enjoyed an enduring well-being, harmonious coexistent, peace and progress in general, the rest is now history.
Against, this background of concern, I once more, plead with all concerned parties, to sheath their swords, burry their hatchets, embrace the peace-round table talks and break bread together for posterity sake.
It is time to heal old wounds through forgiveness. LET US FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER, WITH THE KNOWING THAT, WE ARE ALL TOGETHER IMPERFECT BEING BY NATURE. Like the saying goes, “to err is human, to forgive is divine”.
I have confidence not only on the ability of the past leaders to come together to resolving this crisis soonest, but also confidence, that the concerned parties at all level shall come together, for the love of the association and the profession, have a rethink, an ever green considerations and reassuring to put the past behind them, whereby, rekindling hope and confidence in the heart of the larger followers, who looks up to them for effective professional leadership delivery.
I, as well, have confidence not just on the ANLCA as one of the accredited associations in the freight forwarding profession, but in the endurance, capacity and destiny of the members, who will support tangible moves and provide ideas that will foster professional progress, survival and unity.
Gentlemen, stand up to be counted, make your positive contributions or sacrifice today. Any leader, past and present who still keep quiet and allow this quagmire to linger, without doubt shall be considered as pretending to be sitting tight on the fence, but indirectly fueling the crisis from behind. As such, he or she is part of the problem and not a solution to the problem.
An elder statesman doesn’t keep quite in the face of crisis or chaos. The theme of the present clarion call is: “Arise oh Comrades, let’s salvage our tomorrow”.
Don’t join those who are fanning the ambers of ANLCA deeper crisis and disintegration. Such people are mere merchants or hawks, unfortunately their evil enterprises God will confuse.
Thanks for your attention,
Fwdr. Dr. Eugene Ifeanyichukwu Nweke is the former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).
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