Do not step aside now, NAGAFF Founder urged

Tayo Oladipupo |

The immediate past Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Fred Ajuzie, has predicted that moves by the founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam to step aside or retire freight forwarding activities could bring an end to the association’s existence.

In a chat with newsmen in Lagos on Friday, Ajuzie lamented members of the association do not have what it takes to fill in the big shoe of the founder of the association.

The former Chairman also described members of the umbrella body of freight forwarding practitioners as selfish, stingy and incompetent to assist in moving the association forward saying that the NAGAFF top brass is the face of group.

Ajuzie advised Dr. Boniface Aniebonam to serve members of the association for an additional ten years to further boost the morale of those who currently don’t have what it takes to influence or lead others.

Recall that Aniebonam in recent time announced that he would soon step aside from the association for younger ones to take over from him.

But Ajuzie said that if such should happen, it would lead to the non-existence of the freight forwarding association.

He argued that aside the founder, there is no other individual that can command respect or speak for people to listen.

According to him, young members who seem to be available to take responsibility are only doing so for their selfish gains and will fizzle out when the chips are down.

“It is not the first time he (Aniebonam) will say that he wants to step aside.

“Even when I came on board as the chapter chairman, there was such news that he would pull out from NAGAFF, then the association was strong enough to manage itself in terms of finance because an association cannot be run without finance.

“If Aniebonam should pull out today, who is going to wear the masquerade because most of the people in NAGAFF are stingy people, they are not resourceful, not strong, name it.

“It is only Aniebonam who can say I bring out a hundred thousand or, one million for NAGAFF, except the new boys that we have now who out of their selfishness will do something but when the chips are down, they will go but Aniebonam stands the test of time and if Aniebonam pulls out, there is no NAGAFF again.

“My message to NAGAFF is that they should never allow the founder to leave the association otherwise the association will cease to exist, the man still needs ten years to pilot the association so that members can be bold and courageous,” the acclaimed elder state man said.

Speaking on the recent chapter elections, he denied crippling the chances of Tanko Ibrahim in the last chapter polls as widely reported.

Ajuzie said he advised him to look before leaping before the election that the race required money; but he went ahead and eventually lost the election.