BOT Crisis: I Will Maintain Neutrality No Matter What Happens, ANLCA President Insists
*Enjoins lovers of ANLCA to follow path of peace
*Says what is at stake is common interest of members, not individual thing
By Francis Ugwoke
The National President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, Hon. Tony-Iju Nwabunike weekend maintained the position of neutrality in the crisis rocking the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the association.
Nwabunike who also called on other members of the executive of the association to be neutral said no amount of intimidation will force him to change to support one side as against the other in the Board crisis.
He believes that remaining neutral was the best for the good of the association.
Nwabunike appealed to all peace loving members of the association to follow the path peace for the interest of the association, adding that what was at stake was the general interest of the association and not an individual thing.
He said that those ready for feud in the association should consider the negative impact on the body, adding that it was better to give peace a chance than to allow the rearing crisis to escalate.
“I believe in dialogue because through that the rough edges of the matter can be mended. I believe strongly that it is better to settle the matter instead of following the other path. It Is certainly not a personal thing. It is association matter and needs all shades of opinion to settle. That is why it is better for all those who are aggrieved but still love the association to join hands so that the matter is settled”, he said.
Nwanunike added that it was not even in the best interest of members that ANLCA remains in crisis with its objective role of protecting practising members.
He said this was the reason why all the aggrieved members or feuding board members should embrace peace.
He said, “The entire membership of ANLCA needs the protection of association at this time in the history of Nigeria’s port industry when licensed customs agents and freight forwarders are at the receiving ends from impositions from terminal operators, shipping companies and so many other anomalies in the port system coupled with the ‘normal’ challenges associated with clearing of cargo at the ports.
“We cannot at this time afford not to speak with one voice in the face of these daunting challenges in our resolve to save our profession and protect the interest of our numerous and vulnerable members by allowing internal disagreement, which ought to be settled on a roundtable to tear us apart. Definitely, history will not judge us right if we allow this to happen.
“Nigeria’s port industry, especially the cargo supply chain needs the invaluable contributions of ANLCA, mostly at this point in the history of the industry, which cannot be achieved in a state of crisis, given the strategic position and role of the association, which has also bought about series of reforms that have benefitted the industry immensely”.
The cause of the crisis has to do with two BOT members, Chief Henry Njoku and Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha who are laying claim as the authentic chairman of the Board.
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