By Val Iwuchukwu
The attention of the National Secretariat has been drawn to a publication taken out by the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA- Adumaza Joe Sanni which is now trending in blog, print and social media. The publication was anchored around the forthcoming Western zone chapter election, but the writer digressed and took a swipe on National Executive Committee of ANLCA with obvious intention to cause disaffection within the Association and to give out NECOM as grossly incompetent bunch and suggest that our great Association is dying by installment. His piece was a combination of truth, half-truth and outright falsehood. When such tirade comes from someone who ought to be the Chief Image Maker of ANLCA, then it is something serious and should not be handled with kid gloves.
The National President and the entire NECOM are not in the habit of joining issues publicly with anyone and probably that has given Joe Sanni and his likes that lack understanding of their line of duty the impetus to disparage constituted authority with reckless abandon. The problem with keeping quiet in the face of spurious allegation is that it amounts to consent and may go a long way to influencing public opinion and action. Take for instance the publication of the list of the candidates for Western Chapter election which was characterized with errors and mix up. It was prematurely published and it betrayed efforts effected under hurry and pressure.
The annoying thing is that the NPS is a member of NECOM but he has not at any time written an internal memo to draw the attention of NECOM on any of the issues he has variously raised. Instead he prefers to dance to the gallery in fruitless efforts for cheap popularity.
Having laid the background let me address some of the issues he raised in his 12 page tirade.
Board of Trustees
The BOT is a vital organ of ANLCA, its tenure; duties and functions are clearly spelt out in the Supreme Constitution of great ANLCA. If there is internal crisis within the Board, it is expected that it should resolved amicably from within. An outsider coming into it should first of all ask what is the Constitutional provision as it concerns BOT. NECOM will use persuasion, it will use moral and religious adjuration for the interest of peace, but ultimately the Supreme Constitution of ANLCA which they swore to uphold and protect will always prevail.
Chapter Election
Pending any unforeseen circumstances NECOM have the confidence in ASECO as presently constituted. The National Secretariat will continue to support and play its part for a successful election. The NPS insinuated that NECOM are not happy with ASECO and change in that Committee is likely, but this is not true. However, NECOM will not fold their hands and watch any committee derail.
NECOM Meeting
NECOM will meet on the 17th day of December, 2018. The BOT, Western Zone Chapter election and other vexatious issues will top the agenda. The NPS will be given the opportunity to ventilate his anger and any issue h raises will be resolved dispassionately.
Going through the NPS’s piece, one notices where he wrote about those at the National Secretariat seeking “a pound of flesh”. He used words like “unexpected victory” while referring to the victory of Iju Tony Nwabunike in the National Election of last March. He also painted the National President as a “novice” (though he puts it in parenthesis) in the eyes of other BOT members. That man knows what he is doing; he wants to knock heads together.
If not cheer mischief on what basis can a rational human being perceive, amplify or describe one of the most colourful personalities in maritime sub sector in the person of Iju Tony Nwabunike as a novice? Someone who has been the Chairman of Apapa chapter of ANLCA, ANLCA National Secretary, sat on the Council of CRFFN as head among others. These talking down, this watering down of the hard work of NECOM, these systematic disparaging meant to reduce the National President, NECOM and great ANLCA and ridicule them in the eyes of the public by someone who ought to be the number one image maker of the body must stop.
As a matter of fact, these acts amount to incompetence, gross misconduct and should be treated once and for all at the NECOM Meeting.
Joe Sanni wrote in page 6 of his piece accusing Yoruba and Igbo members of scheming out other ethnic groups from the leadership of ANLCA thereby fanning embers of disunity in ANLCA.
The NPS alleged that _”Two BOT members sat down together and between themselves, plotted selfishly to use ANLCA as a platform/launchpad to actualise their individual ambitions and aspirations”. He claimed that Chief Njoku immediately nominated Iju Tony Nwabunike to supervise ASECO. This according to him was to acquaint Iju Tony with necessary experience and for him to mingle with the voters. How logical is this allegation because Dayo Azeez was the Supervisor of ASECO before Iju Tony. Even at that Prince Taye Oyeniyi, Dennis Okafor, Alhaji Mustapha and Sir Ernest Elochukwu were Supervisors at one time or the other, could that be said that they became Supervisors in anticipation of running for election? It is on record and great professionals know when and how the National President entered into the race early this year. When one resort to lies because he wants to hurt some people forgetting that he is addressing enlightened minds, his integrity suffers.
Listen to Joe Sanni again: “For this elected official of the association, I see an annihilation of ANLCA in progress…”
What is the meaning of the above assertion? Where is this Prophet of doom coming from? For the avoidance of doubt ANLCA is in a very good hand , ANLCA has been existing before our Fathers, it has perpetuity. Those praying for eternal perdition of ANLCA should desist because like every mortal they will be lost and forgotten while ANLCA will continue to exist.
Sometimes when Sanni writes, he does so with so much authority as if he has been made the spokesman of his so called genuine leaders. He often draw line between genuine leaders and false leaders categorizing his colleagues in NECOM as incompetent. This gentleman should know that those that constitute the current NECOM were duly elected, sworn in and as such they are in power and that will not change until their term expires.
We are aware that there are challenges facing ANLCA like Customs support for unauthorized Agencies in the Ports, multiple customs units in the ports and terminals, false valuation of imported vehicles, high handedness of Customs officers and interception of cargoes already cleared from Ports by FOU etc, all these problems have been with us from time immemorial and the current ANLCA executives at every level will tackle it squarely.
The President has resolved to be Presidential, to treat everyone with respect. No mischief, no misfortune will distract him and his colleagues from the task of moving ANLCA forward.
Val Iwuchukwu, Attorney at Law, SSA to the National President of ANLCA on Media and Publicity is the Oloye Tunluse of Ejigbo and Ijan Land of Lagos State.
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