By Sylvanus Obasi
Barely a week after he held a general meeting whereby he called for peace, unity and reconciliation amongst all aggrieved members of the chapter, it appears the banana peel syndrome which has become synonymous with his chapter is again rearing its ugly head against him.
This is because the newly installed chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Tincan Island Chapter, Hon Fwdr Azubuike Ekweozor has threatened to abdicate his chairmanship position due to what he described as financial pressure from members of Board of Trustee of the association at the headquarters level.
Briefing news men in his office last week, Ekweaozor said he would have to step aside as the Tincan Chapter Chairman if the internal pressure being exerted on him by the association’s Board of Trustees continue unabated.
“As expected, being the chairman of Tincan Chapter, I know that I am trying my best at least to please the headquarters; but the kind of pressure I am getting from the Board of Trustees at the headquarters it’s becoming very worrisome”.
“Everything is not all about money; everything is not all about returns. Everything is all about how do you sanitize the system you met on ground; and what do you do to move the people you are heading forward; and how to move the association forward”.
Speaking further, the newly installed chairman said that his priority as a chapter chairman is not all about money but how to move NAGAFF Tincan chapter to the next level. Adding that since it’s all about money for the BOT, he would have no option than to throw in the towel and move on with his business.
He however, stated that he has not discussed the matters with NAGAFF headquarters, but would soon meet them officially, after which he would decide on whether to go ahead with the resignation plans or not.
Responding to questions from journalists over his relationship with the Founder of the association, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Ekweozor said: “As per the Founder, he is my mentor, and I have a very cordial relationship with him. And as a matter of fact, am not trying to put a resignation letter because of him.
He is not the association; he is only the Founder of the association. He fought for it and the association has come to stay”.
Meanwhile, Ekweozor was quick to acknowledge that his resignation would not be the end of NAGAFF in Tincan chapter; even as he maintained that he would not be seen to be aggrieved because he is resigning willingly and not forced by any one to do so.
” I don’t think if I resign that, that will be the end of NAGAFF. I don’t have such impression. That I leave as chairman does not mean I have left NAGAFF; but I think I want to step aside. Actually, I can’t be aggrieved because nobody forced me to resign; and am still part of the Founding members of NAGAFF”, he stated.
He also maintained that despite hitches, his chapter records are currently up to date in terms of dues and remittances to the headquarters, but expressed worries that his resignation would adversely affect the business trust he has built for the association in his chapter.
“If I resign, I think anybody that has business with NAGAFF will be careful because the little trust I have been able to impose there, will be hanging.
“So there is no way people will know that a man they trusted has stepped out; and they will go ahead to give a benefit of doubt. I don’t think so because they are human; but if the person decides to take a risk, then it’s left for him not for me”, Ekweozor hinted.
Recall that before his election as chairman of Tincan chapter in the NAGAFF General Elections held in March this year; Ekweozor had on the interim took over the leadership of the chapter as Care-taker Committee Chairman from Fwdr. Nwabude whose executive was dissolved following alleged misconduct.
Meanwhile, an atmosphere of anxiety and pandemonium has be-clouded the headquarters of NAGAFF as the news of Ekweozor’ resignations hit the association, prompting mixed reactions amongst members and non-members.
A survey done by our correspondent who visited NAGAFF headquarters and interviewed some members reveals that all is not uhuru at the association over the development, especially as some declined to comment on the issue.
Be that as it may be, events of few days if not weeks to come, will reveal where the pendulum will swing.
