The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji has said that with the outcome of the recently concluded chapter elections of the association, there’s no more camps in ANLCA as according to him, all camps have been collapsed.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held at the ANLCA National Secretariat in Lagos recently, Nwokeoji advised the newly elected executive to see every member of their various chapters as being under them warning that the National Executive Committee, NECOM of the association would not be happy to hear of any faction going forward.
Nwokeoji said, “Inside this hall now, are people who before now, are considered outsiders, who see themselves as members of different factions but God, by divine providence, has brought all of us to be one big, united family and one other thing that I observed in this election is that we have a lot of greenhorns. These are people that have never held office in ANLCA before but because we provided a level playing field, they put themselves forward and the chapters said, these are the men that we want.
“I will use one chapter, Port-Harcourt port, Area 1, a unique thing, I don’t know whether I am the only one that observed it. The outgoing administration in Port-Harcourt, five of them decided to come again and they have been together before now but out of five of them, three moved to camp A queuing behind one chapter Chairman and the other two moved to queue behind another chapter Chairman but they had been working together, and as God will have it, at the end of the election, some old members of that chapter were voted out and new people in that chapter came onboard. That will tell you in ANLCA election, we try as much as possible to be free.
“So, I will advise some people that still see themselves as representing any group or any faction, please, as you take oath of office, don’t take this oath for granted. If you leave here and you still want to toe the line of belonging to this group or to that group, nobody might see you but know that God is watching.
“So, I welcome all of you and for those of you who emerged victorious, you know victory is sweeter when you win but that does not mean that you should take all to yourself. Whatever you went through is the same thing the man you defeated went through but it’s just God’s mercy that made you the victor. So, please, make sure you carry everybody along because all of us have one thing or the other that we can contribute. Don’t say this man was not in my camp because if I have said that, maybe, you wouldn’t have won.
“There’s no more camp, all camps have been collapsed and every member of the your chapter is under you. We will not be happy if we hear of any fraction. In NECOM, we try as much as possible not to allow anything like camp. I know it’s not easy, but we are not relenting.”
The visibly excited National President recalled that when they started the journey, many people thought it was mission impossible noting that the journey of the chapter elections which started in Kano went on peacefully even as he acknowledged that there’s no absolute peace anywhere.
“We conquered and it was successful in the east. Then, coming to the West, the war drums became louder but we persevered and with your support, that election held. Yes there’s no way you can have election, even in developed countries that you will not have some dissenting voices.
“But the most important thing is that inside this hall today, I am happy that Aare (Hakeem Olanrewaju) is here by divine providence. Nobody gave him the chance when he invited all of us, the waring factions to Abuja and after the meeting, so many petition, he held his ground and he was able to conduct our NECOM election.
“The good thing about ANLCA election is it is in the open. Yes, there might be some skirmishes but it’s not like what you get from outside this place”, he submitted.
Reminding the elected officials of their responsibilities and the expectations of their members from them, he said, “They did not vote you in to go and print complementary cards and then, move to Alaba or move to Onitsha to use it. Or the people from Kano, to move to Sabongari market to go and start looking for goods to clear. There’s nothing wrong with it but you need to care for that office for the benefit of members.”
On his part, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT if ANLCA, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha reminded the newly elected executive that leadership position had to do with a lot even as he urged those who won the last chapter elections to it as victory not only for themselves but for God and for the entire members of their various chapters.
He also warned them against fanning the embers of factions saying, “Don’t go into running your chapter on the basis of these were the people who supported me and these were the people who did not support me. If you take it on that note, you may get it wrong.
“Do not call whoever has contested with you a lazy person or think that probably it was your own arithmetic that made you win that election. God has placed you there to see what you can do with that leadership position.
“Your integrity, value and ethics must be topnotch. And while you run the administration, run it on fair play and fairness so that at the end of the day, you have every cause to stand before your God and say, God, these are my assignments, I have been able to deliver.”
Photo: Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji, ANLCA National President.
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