By Joe Sanni
Recently, I made an intervention pleading with the National President of ANLCA- Iju Tony Nwabunike to save the instalmental degradation of the profile of great ANLCA! Great Professionals! To plead with Chief Henry Njoku to cede the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees to Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, who was elected Chairman by the now 8-member Board of Trustees of ANLCA, on the 13th of April 2018 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos.
Unfortunately, just on Thursday 6th of December 2018, in an online publication, the National President stated that he is in total support of the two-man member faction BOT, against the majority 5 with one abstaining, in the 8-member BOT. Even though this statement was put out by his handlers who are not ANLCA members by virtue of not operating a Nigeria Customs-issued corporate license of practice, which is a basis for being a member, it was expected by critical, discerning minds that a rebuttal of such a misleading statement from the principal is expected. Nothing, till this moment, has been heard from ember of ANLCA, the only person, whose actions and inactions are sure to determine the corporate existence of ANLCA in the long run.
But, mum is his word on this matter, and suspiciously so too, because there is a pervasive thinking, that why is it, in spite of incontrovertible facts to the effect that the Board members, within themselves conducted elections into offices created for their administrative convenience, the National President has refused or avoided recognizing the authentic winner of that election, since then till now? Something fishy and secret? Just may be that is why it seems difficult to decipher what is wrong from what is right up till now.
Could this be one of the strategies in the long concocted plan to deliberately destroy ANLCA, by especially elements from IFFA and NAGAFF, masquerading as genuine members of ANLCA?
All the vociferous voices, who have refused to look at the fundamental issues militating against the corporate existence of ANLCA, are IFFA members or NAGAFF-linked, and are all from one block, egged on by two elements from the majority block. They do not mean well for ANLCA- from all intents and purposes.
For ANLCA’s National President, who was until the NECOM elections at Enugu on the 8th of March 2018, a member of the Board of Trustees of ANLCA, and participated as an observer in the BOT change of officers elections-which is not a constitutional matter, but purely for BOT administrative convenience, and pleaded thereafter to allow the effectiveness of the change be after his inauguration on the 14th of April 2018 in the same venue, to now act as if all is well almost 8 months after, smacks of an ungentlemanly disposition. This is so, because several days, weeks, months, high levels of meetings, and pleadings, involving almost all the BOT members; sometimes some of them together, it has been a case of changing the goal posts at every turn. How long can this be tolerated, in the face of sustainable facts?
What some of our members do not seem to understand is that the persistence of the BOT crisis of leadership puts a deliberate clog in the wheel of ANLCA’s progress. And, until that clog is disgorged, ANLCA remains in chains, destined for the ruins. But, God forbid the prayers of ANLCA-pretenders.
If this scenario is not so, then, genuine lovers of ANLCA must rise up now, raise their voices against the impunity of few individuals perpetrating this barefaced nonsense.
Imagine, the BOT crisis has left ASECO in disarray and uncoordinated in their activities presently in the Western zone, where they are expected to be preparing to conduct elections into 5 chapters on the 10th of December 2018 (which was a date tentatively set then) but appears to be over shadowed by the determined efforts of two elected officers, at the National Secretariat, in active collaboration with the National President, to precipitate crisis and ensure that the Western zone chapters’ elections does not hold.
A pointer to this fact, is the fake voters’ register being forced on ASECO by these gang that is on a mission to balkanize ANLCA’s chapters, for their selfish interests only.
Just yesterday (7th December 2018) at the National Secretariat, Seme Border Chapter members came to the national Secretariat to protest the list submitted to ASECO, which was compiled in favor of one of the contestants, and done right inside the secretariat, thereby discountenancing the authentic register submitted by the Chairman of the chapter- Barrister Lasisi Bisiriyu Fanu.
As it is usual, and constitutionally sustained over the years, ASECO announces a date for the closure of membership register, goes to all the chapters due for election and signs off, with the Chairman and Secretary on the register, which they (ASECO) then take away to compile the voters list for the up-for-elections chapters.
Presently, three of five chapters (PTML, KLT and Seme) are embroiled in this crisis, which is bound to snowball into a major violence, if care is not taken. Apapa is a no-go area for these perpetrators for fear of not courting the anger of the leader there, while MMI Airport was exempted from rummaging.
All the above mentioned chapters are being designated to certain individuals at the National Secretariat.
Even though verifications of the voters are yet to be carried out by ASECO, the fact that ASECO is not allowed to do its job by some NECOM members-which is the first time this kind of meddling in the affairs of ASECO is taking place, NECOM should hands off ASECO, and let the constitutionally responsible body- BOT take charge of conducting the elections into the 5 of 8 chapters in the Western zone of ANLCA, Section 13, Subsection 4 (d) and Section 30 Subsection (v).
This is where the issue of the immediate resolution of the BOT crisis comes in, before the constitutionally tenured chapters expire and “they”, now take advantage to install “their” stooges in temporary capacities. The implications of this happening, is better imagined than left unarrested.
The crisis of confidence distorting NECOM’s inability to be organized and focused, is not just a fall out of the March 8th, 2018 elections at Enugu, but a view by a few to see their elected positions as opportunities to make stupendous riches, while leaving members’ operational problems unsolved. That has not been the practice of administrations in the past.
Certainly those who found themselves at the helm of affairs presently, including this member, campaigned on the strength of capacity to deal with the operational challenges of members, forgetting that a basic administrative structure and cognate experience is required to achieve this, as some members of NECOM have not still gotten over “they against us” mentality. Very unfortunate indeed.
Barking out orders as if we are in a regimented/militarized association is definitely unacceptable in a properly constituted NECOM, with fully elected members, with specifically provisioned constitutional responsibilities.
It is to be noted that issues raised in my earlier intervention are yet to be controverted by the various critics, who have acted without a sense of history and constitutional understanding. They seem not be abreast with progressive developments in ANLCA. All they see is “their person” being thrown darts at. No!! They should look beyond that, and interrogate the issues raised. That is the way people of integrity, intellect, credibility and of sound minds behave. They should think of issues indepthly.
Truth is that nobody, except one or two persons knew the political ambition of the National President, while he was campaigning/contesting for the position of National President (NP) of ANLCA which, from antecedents, is a full time job, as spelt out in the constitution of ANLCA, which describes the office occupant, as the Chief Executive Officer reporting to the Board- Section 7 (1)(a) of ANLCA constitution.
Another truth is that his absence at the National Secretariat for longer days than can be imagined, has robbed the Association of a rallying point, a focus and a NECOM-led teamwork.
While the NP is busy campaigning for a seat at the Federal House of Representatives at the forthcoming February 2019 national elections, ANLCA has continued to be run by those who do not have the powers or the capacity to do so.
For instance, correspondences addressed to the National President has continually being actioned by the National Vice President, who has no officially communicated mandate from the National President, to act in the capacity of the Acting National President, while the NP is away holidaying, on the campaign stomp or even doing something else.
It is even sad to note that the National Secretary who receives letters on behalf of the National President, most times acts on such letters without bringing them to the notice of the NP – in this era of ICT. This is rather absurd.
Yes, the secretariat cannot remain stagnant or ANLCA’s growth stultified, because of the unexpected distraction of the National President’s engagement elsewhere. What is expected by sane minds is for the NP to officially take a leave of absence, and handover to the NVP, pending the conclusion of his election in 2019, as it is done in organized climes.
Those presently directing affairs at the National Secretariat are not just acting at cross purposes, but they jointly and separately believe that they can run ANLCA without requisite meetings or sticking to the extant constitution of ANLCA too. Things are just not done that way. We are in an association, populated by willing members who on their own volition, at the Enugu NECOM elections, gave us (NECOM) the mandate to, on their behalf, superintend over their affairs for a 4-year tenure.
And, here we are, already wasting almost 8 months unable to get our acts together, to even solve some of the identified operational challenges enumerated in my earlier write up. So, when are we going to do that? At the upcoming emergency NEC meeting in Abuja on the 17th December (one week to Christmas) or thereafter?
Organizing an emergency National Executive Council meeting at Abuja, during Yuletide Season, is not going to be easy, especially when NECOM has not officially met to discuss the logistics, funding strategy and Agenda of such meetings. The gunboat approach and secretive disposition of those dispensing power today, will only aggravate the precarious situation in which ANLCA has presently found itself.
This is why I said in my last intervention and equally reiterated here, that those running the association presently are on a mission to destroy ANLCA, as some persons have continuously boasted that “ANLCA is already experiencing diminishing returns” and that it is now safe for “them” to take a back seat, as their organizations would thenceforth be in good stead, to dominate the maritime sea waves and airwaves.
As observed in last week’s intervention, ANLCA is home to one of the major blocks (even though discountenancing the minorities in ANLCA) while the others are spread across other groups, known only to, and for that block alone.
Everything must be done to weigh in on the NP to do the needful, as quickly as tomorrow, in order to bring sanity into the Since-1954-established-ANLCA, having promised several times to bring the matter to a close, especially with the emergence of Chief Henry Njoku as the Vice Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) governing board, which not only exposes him to the major players at the corridors of power for more political, business and personal gains, but also avails him the opportunity to resign from the Chairmanship of the BOT, while still remaining an active or, if he desires- a passive member of the Board of Trustees till 2020, when the constitutional 6-year tenure expires, having been elected at the Warri BOT elections, in February of 2014 as a member.
Furthermore, every member of the Board of CRFFN, apart from the chairman, will be remunerated monthly from the purse of the FGN through the FMOT, which will be an added gain to what might come every member’s way, in the course of their tenure as Board members of CRFFN. In fact, apart from Chief Henry Njoku and perhaps one other “representing” ANLCA on the CRFFN board, all others are non-members of ANLCA in the true sense of the word.
All efforts must be geared towards solving the BOT crisis, which is just too straight forward but some persons benefitting immensely from the crisis, are ever busy ensuring that the crisis never abates, dovetailing into the distrust in NECOM, where a few sees others as latent enemies, not to be entertained at all.
Honestly, a full-fledged NECOM meeting, with an agenda to discuss visitations to aggrieved persons or corporates, planned programs to be embarked upon, scheduling of meetings with stakeholders in the industry, effective contention with the operational challenges of members, enhancing their businesses, discussing how to encourage the chapters to meet every month with a view to warehousing members’ problems for solutions and follow ups, etc will be a starting point.
Let us not be deceived. If we shy away from this path, we may never get out of the current crisis, which would have satisfied the entrenched plan of outsiders to destroy ANLCA. This, this member will never allow to happen, by the special grace of God.
Every move by the very few that holds on to ANLCA’s jugular presently must have to be forced to let go. Another thing is that the block that has the opportunity to preside over the affairs of ANLCA now, are toying with an opportunity of a lifetime. If by error of omission or commission, it slips off, then what obtains in other zones may be foisted. Those presently posturing as leaders of the dominant block may inadvertently find themselves without a formidable base to preside, because of the attitude they presently exhibit.
Once again, this “minority” member pleads with the elders and well-meaning leaders of great ANLCA to rise up and halt this unnecessary drift to perdition. The leaders are abound in the Eastern, Northern and Western Zones of Nigeria. I appeal to them (short of mentioning their names) to kindly add their respectful, credible and fatherly voices to retrieving ANLCA from its current travails.
ANLCA is being emasculated by vampires from outside ably aided by a few insiders, who do not know how to manage men and materials.
I have sometimes toyed with the idea of doing an open letter to the governor of Anambra State to plead with Iju Tony Nwabunike to request Chief Njoku to let go, so that while the NP resumes as the honorable MHR in June 2019, ANLCA can be. But, a of lot voices from ANAMBRA State have dissuaded me, saying that this period is unsafe to do so, and that it could send wrong signals.
The idea came to me because it has been understood that several well-meaning men and women, in and out of ANLCA have pleaded with the NP to do the needful, but at every turn, it has been promises, promises, promises and more promises. Of course, without the slightest of seriousness or feelings about what such dispositions portrays one as.
Well, it is often said that politician’s ways are not the ordinary person’s ways. When they are born, they act differently from the norm.
But then, my dear genuine elders and leaders in ANLCA, let us give it a try and save the dwindling fortunes of our own dear ANLCA.
God bless us all.
Adumaza Joe Sanni is the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, former SSA media to Prince Olayiwola Shittu, former Treasurer of Apapa Chapter, former member of Alhaji Inua Mohammed-led ASECO and former Executive Assistant to Chairman of Apapa Chapter-Sir John Dankatsina Ofobike.
December 8, 2018 @ 0520 hours.
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