By Michael Odoemena
The sudden rush into marriage of convenience that propelled the two flagships of the Freight Forwarding Associations to organize a consultative meeting which they tagged town hall meeting, which was held recently, left many in amazement, arising from the quantum of deceits and abandonment of the practitioners over the years in their operational woes.
To the Freight Forwarding practitioners, this moves is more of a fire out of the blues, as the smoke of this fire was not seen or perceived, because the move was rather conspicuous judging by the disparity in the attendance of their members, and subsequent disagreement in the sharing formula, and also on the quality of contestants in the forthcoming CRFFN Council Election.
It may be argued that, the Freight Forwarding profession is been killed by its practitioners. Ordinarily, the proliferation of Freight Forwarding Associations is not an evil omen, excerpt that, the headship of the various splintered groups are not broadminded in the realm of comradeship, which remains a pseudonym as long as Associations in our profession is consigned.
Surprisingly, we are crying wolf, whilst the practitioners themselves actually let out the sheep. The greatest setback and impediment militating against the profession is the non-formation of a virile trade Union organization like the Nigerian Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Association of National Accountants of Nigerian (ANAN), Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Medical Assistance, etc., and not to mention the one in our enclave, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), also known as Dock Workers.
From the inception of ANLCA to the forming of National Council of Managing Directors, NAGAFF, NAFFAC, AREF, etc., the management of all the Associations continues to wallow in cut throat competition, selfish interest, maverick, playing to the galleries, blackmail, bootlickers, accepting crumbs from Shipping Companies, and other Government Agencies, and being an errand boys to the Customs.
The aforementioned, see the Associations as pawns, and pocketed all. What reason can the hierarchies of our various Associations adduce for their inability to form a common mouthpiece for all Freight Forwarders on or before now?
At the said meeting of the accredited Associations, I learnt a big lesson from the Masters of the game, we are asked to write and write and write, against all the anomalies in the industry, but we need to sanitize our immediate constituencies, before going outside, because what made the he goat stinks is from the inside. Now enough is enough!!!
Dr. Eugene Nweke and Prince Shittu former Presidents of NAGAFF and ANALCA then, made a move to unite all industry members, and gladiators, despite the Association, but a fifth columnist scuttled the arrangement, for maverick reasons, hence, the Joint Action Committee Of Freight Forwarders (JACOFF), was truncated. Many members of the Freight Forwarding family are appalled by the sudden twist in the unholy alliance between the two prominent Associations, which is still as amazing as an Indian marrying a Kashmir, however, it is now proven that it is only in the election sharing formula of the CRFFN Governing Council Election that they are ever willing to unite themselves.
The most brazen hole in the taunted accord is the absent of the NAGAFF President, who is against the sharing formula, which made it looked unconstitutional. He is also vehemently in support of Independent candidates.
As funny as it sounded, the argument put forth by the Associations hierarchy is that, without political parties, no candidates is qualified to contest an election. This is absolutely right, but they failed to tell us also that a primary comes up before presentation of candidates for elections. This will now lead us to the issue of how did the candidates emerge. Are they handpicked or was there in house contest before their selection processes
Absolutely, none of such, as there was no competition before their emergence, which makes the process undemocratic, unilateral, fascist and undue influence against laid down norms and rules.
This is the same process that transported the outgoing representative to the Council.
The Freight Forwarders are still embittered, complaining that the outgoing representative, did not for once address the people they are meant to represent, even on the very day of the accord, among them, also, that are warming up for a reelection into the governing council, did not find it expedient to give a single report to the practitioners, as a matter of fact, if these group of representatives are allowed to return back to the Council, doom will spell for us in higher proportion.
The only way out of the imbroglio is for Freight Forwarders to come out and, support, sponsor independent candidates, by so doing salvage our profession. Let it be boldly said, using blackmail against the Independent candidates will spell doom for the industry. And of greater worrisome is caliber of individuals listed as the favoured candidates, smacks an insult to the professional integrity of the practitioners, as some of them have not cut their teeth in the field of Freight Forwarding.
The mission which is the most attraction by majority of the favoured candidates is to drive a federal government branded Hilux pick up and by extension involve in what is tagged as the largesse from the billions Naira budgetary of the CRFFN.
This gathering storm, if eventually blows will further blow Freight Forwarders into an abyss, if it failed to have a genuine independent representative, undoctored by their benefactors.
It is my candid advice that the new and emerging associations like APFFLON, ACFF&T, though not accredited by CRFFN, must make sure that they will sponsor at least 3 candidates in order to remain relevant, considering their numbers.
Our fate is in our hand; never allow few individuals lord it over the teeming majority.
What can we bequeath to our generation yet coming up? I am a Concerned Freight Forwarder.
I rest my case.
Thanks for your attention.
Michael Odoemena is a freight forwarder.
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