Photographs taken during the press briefing:
No going back on BOT election – Says ANLCA President, Tony Iju
* Vows to sanction members sabotaging ANLCA
* We lost N20million to hoodlums attack
(Written by Silas Onuoha):
The National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Tony Iju Nwabunike, has said that there is no going back on Election to the Board of ANLCA and the Annual General Meeting (AGM), of the Association, which will take place in the next two weeks.
He disclosed this while addressing maritime reporters, yesterday on the crisis instigated against the leadership of ANLCA by some individuals.
According to him, the Association will not hesitate to sanction members sabotaging the efforts of ANLCA from moving forward in the maritime industry.
His assertion :
“Enough is enough. What is happening now is a distraction and we will not allow anyone to pull ANLCA background anymore.
Mr Tony Iju revealed that the crisis in ANLCA is instigated against the leadership by former Board members, who want illegal tenure elongation at all cost, not considering the fact that such illegality is against ANLCA’s Construction.
He lamented that the association incurred more than N20 million losses to recent hoodlums attack on the facilities at the national Secretariat, instigated by those out to destroy ANLCA.
He alleged that after all their antics to destabilize the National Executive Committee (NECOM) failed, they resorted to physical attack by hiring hoodlums who stormed the secretariat with guns and other dangerous weapons.
The National President, said he came into office in 2018 through a credible election, and since then, he has worked assidiuously to ensure peace and unity in the Association, but his detractors are opposing the peace initiative strongly for selfish reasons.
Mr Tony Iju explained that the efforts by the NECOM to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis has been widely extended to erring members, such that the Association granted pardon to members who took the leadership to Court.
“For instance, “In the last two years, these same individuals had instituted eight Court cases against my leadership and I did not retaliate any for the sake of peace”.
Mr Tony Iju insisted: “The tenure of the former Board expired since last February, after six years. The reality is that ANLCA under my leadership will not be a part of illegal tenure elongation for any reason.
He alleged that the former Board Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and four others are those working against ANLCA.
His words, “If Mustapha desires to remain in the Board, let him pick a form and contest with others. The process is open and no body should insist on tenure elongation.
“ANLCA’s Constitution does not support such illegality and this NECOM will not go against the Constitution just to favour few members.
Also, the National Secretary of ANLCA, Alhaji Babatunde Abdulazeez, gave all the Journalists copies of the Constitution.
He explained the details of the Constitution and what the document says about BOT election.
He stressed that the antics of detractors will never destabilize ANLCA, as the current leadership is competent to move the Association to greater height of recognition.
The press conference was a successful deliberation, as Tony Iju adequately addressed all the questions from Journalists.
Among those in attendance include ANLCA Vice President Dr. Kayode Farinto, Mr Bola Balogun from Airport chapter and other Executive members of the Association.
