New BoT: Appraising the Next Level Politics in ANLCA

By Francis Ugwoke

In the words of former President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, the present leadership of the association should not bother on the crisis in the Board, because according to him, their Constitutional roles were clear and limited. The Board does not have such powers to control the national executive. While this appears true, the activities of the self-acclaimed board led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha impacted negatively on the operations of the national executive. Two chapters loyal to Mustapha held the national association to ransom, so to say. The two Western chapters, including Apapa and Tin Can Island held tight their domain and refused to pay homage to the national executive and therefore did not remit monthly or yearly dues to the national headquarters. Every effort to ensure that this trend changed failed as the chapters took dictations from the estranged board. All the overtures for peace by the National President of the association, Iju Tony Nwabunike failed. Nwabunike chose to address the issues following the path of peace. But this did not work. It was this that compelled him to opt for drastic action in line with the wishes of his other principal members of National Executive Committee (NECOM). At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association held last week, Mustapha’s board was seen as illegal and therefore non-existent. The reasons are obvious, the association believed that the estranged board did not emerge legally in line with the body’s constitutional provisions. The NECOM only recognized the Board under the leadership of Chief Henry Njoku. It was indeed this board that handed over to the next board after the election.

Now with the new board election over, the war lords in ANLCA may not be resting. By now, they may be restrategising on the next approach to the fight. They may still consider to drop their sword and embrace peace. While some may follow this path, it is likely that some foot soldiers may decide to fight on. But information available is that there is a division among the gladiators in the camp of Mustapha. A source said Mustapha is not really interested in continuing the fight but for those of his foot soldiers who may consider themselves losers under the present circumstances. Mustapha is not alone, a former President who appears sympathetic to the camp may be thinking along this line, But alas, the foot soldiers appear to be daggers drawn apparently because of the economic gains or losses involved. Both Mustapha and the former President, including others in this camp are economically strong and would want to forget the past and allow the new board to be.
As at Tuesday last week, a day to the board election, one of the new board members who has been tipped to be the board chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi was approached by Mustapha camp in his office. Afolabi was advised not to show interest in the board election.
But after listening to them, he still went ahead to contest the board position. Afolabi surprisingly made the highest donation of N2m to support the AGM after the board election. Other new board members contributed between N1million and N500,000.00 to support the AGM.

For many members and others who have watched the emerging scenario in ANLCA, the decision to hold the board election was imperative. It was mainly to move the association forward.
Over the years Nwabunike has been following the path of peace, kneeling down at some point to beg some of the elders to embrace peace. But this was to no avail. One of the estranged board members was alleged to have demanded N1m monthly bribe if Nwabunike wanted peace to reign during his tenure. When his demand was rebuffed, the estranged board member used all his forces and resources to enthrone crisis in the association.
As earlier pointed out, for the estranged board members, no one knows what will be the next step. But sources believe that it could be end of the road for them. It is the same end of the road for the Apapa and Tin Can Island chapter executives. Incidentally, the politics this time around is well designed that they will not succeed for obvious reasons. It is not likely that the Mustapha camp will want to contend with the new board which may be headed by Afolabi. A source said that having failed to dissuade Afolabi from contesting, the new members should just forget any further fight, because that was where they lost totally.

Nwabunike had during the AGM counted his blessings and those of his colleagues for the successful conduct of the AGM and board election. He praised members for the confidence that the current NECOM under his tenure has enjoyed. He noted that despite every attempt to hinder their operations, NECOM has succeeded.
According to him, the outcome of the AGM means a new association.
He said, “We at NECOM can beat our chest and say that despite numerous challenges, we have done marvelously well.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the outgoing Board was elected for six years tenure at the AGM in Warri on the 13th day of February, 2014. In line with Section 854 of CAMA, the tenure of the registered Trustees is effective from the date the Trustees were appointed or elected and terminates a month before the expiration of the Trustees’ tenure to enable the corporate body plan for succession. Relating this to ANLCA, the six tenure of the BOT expired on 12th January, 2020.
“As a matter of fact, a new BOT would have been in place if not for the lockdown occasioned by the Cocid-19 pandemic. I want to admonish you my professional colleagues to be careful as we elect new Trustees. Those to be elected should be those with tested integrity that have the interest of the association at heart”

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