CRISIS BACKLASH: ANLCA Western Zone Coordinator, Publicity Secretary, 8 Chapter Chairmen Suspended

By ZION Olalekan

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has suspended its western zone coordinator, Sir John Oforbike, its National Publicity Secretary, Joe Sanni and chairmen of eight chapters in its western zone area.

The association has subsequently appointed caretaker chairmen to administer the chapters till further notice.

National President of ANLCA, Tony Iju disclosed this to journalists at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ANLCA held in Abuja on Monday.

Meanwhile, a faction of the association who recently broke away as a result of unresolved crisis in the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the association on Monday locked up the national secretariat, preventing entrance.

A member claimed that the group has invited the police to place its seal on the secretariat, preventing everyone from entering the offices until the crisis is resolved.

Speaking, after the NEC, Tony Iju said the association took a decision to suspend the eight chapter chairmen for their alleged indiscipline and flagrant abuse of ANLCA constitution by boycotting the NEC meeting and for recognizing, Emenike Nwokeoji as their president.

A breakdown of some appointed caretaker chairmen inaugurated by Tony includes; Ojo Akintoye as Tin Can Island chairman, Patrick Ozobialu at Seme chapter, Lawrence Ubah at Ijora chapter, Femi Femat at Apapa chapter among others.

Otunba Sunday Oyebola was appointed as Western Zone Coordinator to replace Sir John Oforbike, while Obicee Okonkwo was appointed as National Publicity Secretary to replace Joe Sanni.

The ANLCA President alleged that since he assumed power, the western zone chapters and members of the Emenike Campaign Organisation has been undermining his authority.

“We must respect the custodian of authority, if they say that I am their president, and I called them for a meeting and they don’t want to come, and when I send them to do anything they don’t want to do it, I have to get somebody that will get me information about these chapters.

“I would remain like a father, as far as I am concerned, my children are fighting and I would remain and ensure they are not fighting anymore, but if a child decides to go astray, then there is nothing I can do.

“The most important thing said here today is that we shouldn’t be giving much recognition to the BOT, they are not to be seen but to be advisory, they should allow us do what we are doing, but if board insists that they want to become administrators, then it is becoming a threat to us.

“We are still going to look into it, we are still very open, I would still call most of them (BOT) if they want us to have a meeting, I will come there, I have given them my sacrifice that whenever they call a meeting, I will be there so that we can make things work, we need them to come together and have one indivisible board”.

Also speaking after the NEC meeting, Factional chairman of the ANLCA BOT, Chief Henry Njokwu said if the break-away faction had attended the meeting and pleaded for leniency or show some remorse, the outcome of the meeting might be different.

He however assured that the national secretariat would be reopened on Tuesday. According to him, the national secretariat was locked because of the NEC meeting, and the faction going there to put another key does not make sense

“The friction is that these people signed a press release saying that they do not recognize the president, you cannot have two captains at a time, the constitution is very explicit on the role of the president, and if anybody challenges that authority, then they would be disciplined, this is not the first time, we are used to having such situation and we would handle it”.

Speaking earlier at the NEC opening ceremony, Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) who was special guest of honour, Alhaji Tsanni Abubakar urged ANLCA members to stay at peace with one another, saying that the peace of the industry lies greatly on the peace in ANLCA.

He assured that the CRFFN is ready to work with ANLCA to bring progress into the industry.

“We are ready to listen to you, we have six members of ANLCA in CRFFN holding vital positions in the Council, this means that the Council is for you people” he said.