Prince Segun Oduntan is a frontline contender in the coming elections into the Tin Can Island Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) which is billed to hold this week.
He spoke with Shipping Position Daily's correspondent Dapo Olawuni on his plans for the Tin Can Chapter, saying that he was inspired by the good deeds of the ANLCA National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu and that if he is elected Chairman, he would replicate same at Tin Can Chapter. He also talked about other elections-related issues.
Sir, give us a brief introduction of yourself
My name is Prince Segun Oduntan, I am from Ikorodu area of Lagos State, I have been in the business of custom brokerage for 27 years. I decided to come out and serve as chairman of Tin Can Island Chapter because all the while, I have been around at the background trying to push people to come forward and contest and serve. But now I realised that some people are not really championing the cause of this profession and why I decided to come out is because of the good works our President (Prince Olayiwola Shittu) has done. This encouraged me to want to come out so that we can sustain what he is doing at the national headquarters at chapter level. We plan to professionalise of our job, get back our jobs from foreigners, and cement our relationship with customs and would-be clients and sanitising it.
We also intend to save this profession from nose-diving from what is obtainable worldwide, we go to other countries and we see agents doing well, I want my people to also have a sense of belonging internationally. There is reformation in every sector of the economy in line with the change mantra of the Federal Government and we don't want our own to be left out, and because of what our National President is doing, it inspired people like me to want to serve and help my professional colleagues.
What is your reaction to the claims by your opposition that you are not on ground?
Why would I be scared of opposition? I am a 50-year old man and I am not a small boy in this business, I have an office at airports, seaports; in and outside Lagos, when the chips are down we know those who have been contributing at the background. Right from the time Kayode Farinto was contesting for chairmanship of the chapter, we were in the background, even the incumbent chairman, Kayode Oyinlola, during his first and second tenure I was there, so why would I be scared, it is not a do or die affair.
‘Godfatherism’ in ANLCA is still real, how are you dealing with it?
At the Tin Can Chapter of ANLCA, we have more followers and supporters; I would not say they are Godfathers. We have supporters and not Godfathers. We have had more than enough godfathers in the past.
I don't need godfathers, I have to sanitise my home first which is my chapter and my supporters, whatever we do at the chapter level will propel us to the national, I don't need any Godfathers, what made me come out is because we realised there was no imposition in all other elections that have been done, so there is no point in saying we have to run to the headquarters, we need to start from the chapter and this is what we have been doing.
How strong is your confidence in ASECO to conduct this election after being accused of trying to sneak-in a candidate?
This is just an allegation, I am a contestant and not ASECO, as far as this election is concerned we are not scared of any group or anybody, the National Publicity Secretary, Kayode Farinto who has made the allegation, I don't know his interest in the election, they have not investigated to really find out jurisdiction of the Zonal Coordinator whom they accused of the offense.
Is it true that booby traps were being set for you by the ANLCA National Publicity Secretary?
In terms of experience about this job, I am not on the same level with the NPS (National Publicity Secretary). When we decided to come out, we went round to consult all the past leaders of the chapter as we are supposed to do, we also went to him, but along the line, if he has something that is contrary to my coming out, he is supposed to keep it as a national leader. He sent me a letter that I should come and address his group; Kayfar Campaign Organisation even when electioneering campaign has not been lifted by ASECO, we played the game by the rules and wrote him back. Thereafter, he sent me questionnaires about what he intend to ask me, he is only interested in his group and what I have for them, he was not asking for what I have for the generality of Tin Can Island agents, I did not attend the meeting because I see it as a trap. We don't know where we got it wrong with him; he has been attacking us on customs platforms, ANLCA forum and so on. He is the only national leader that is going about and campaigning for his candidate, meanwhile every other national leader has their interests, but they are keeping it to their hearts, noise is part of politics but it does not win elections.
Past chairmen of Tin Can chapter have been accused of collecting bribes from Customs and concessionaires and not really fighting the course of their members.
As I speak with you, I work at Tin Can Port, I operate at Apapa port and at the Airport, I also operate at Port Harcourt, I do team play, coming into this race is to serve the people, I have noticed the decadence in the system, if I am solving my own issues alone, I would not be fair to the industry which has made me. It is not going to be business as usual. I am not going to be a chairman that would go and start signing papers and collecting money from agents to take valuation, I do 70% corporate jobs, if there are issues to be addressed with customs, we would sit with the Customs Area Controller and his men and put things straight, and we would be having meetings every other month. We are going to have our desk at every point, in valuation we would have a desk, we would also have at each of the other gates, when issues happen within the port, they would be tackled by delegated people where you need to visit. Somehow, we have lost the value of this profession, it is just now that the glory is coming back and that is why people like us are coming out, I am not going to be a chairman that would be signing 'M.O' (Machine Outside)
How do you intend to work with customs to achieve its target for 2016?
Even if they want N100trillion, they would get it if the economy is buoyant, we are not going to deprive government of its revenue and we are not going to be of assistance to fraudulent importers not to pay duty. We are being licensed by customs and we are like a helping hand to them, as far as their revenue target is concerned, whatever is due to them as revenue will be collected. It is the overall happening in the economy that would determine what they would get, not that they would begin to issue unnecessary debit notes, everything must be done according to book.
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