Reactions have continued to trail Wednesday meeting put together by a faction of the Nigerian Ship owners Association (NISA), which among others pointedly ordered the association’s President; Capt Niyi Labinjo to resign.
Barely 24 hours after some members who attended the general meeting told Labinjo to step aside so as to clear issues concerning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),some allies of the president have distanced themselves from the decision, saying that it is the handy work of some mischief makers.
In a swift reaction to the meeting, the Labinjo led faction said the decision reached by those who were at the meeting was orchestrated by some interest interests.
In a statement sent to Shipping Position Daily, a member of NISA; Rowaye Jubril expressed dissatisfaction with the meeting, saying that he never recognised Aminu Umar as an acting president.
He maintained that since there is a sitting NISA president who was duly elected by all, it would be difficult to agree with some people claiming to act as leaders of the association.
The statement read in part: I do not recognize Aminu as an Ag President of NISA because there is a sitting NISA President who is duly elected, in person of Capt D O Labinjo. Therefore I rejected your invitation".
In a similar reaction, another member, Oladipo Ogunwemimo took a swipe at the secretary general of the association; Mr. Tunji Brown even as he alleged that the scribe is creating mischief and disunity among members.
"The executive members and especially Mr Tunji Brown have shown that they have nothing to offer the association except to cause mischief and disunity among members.
"We members should view the achievements so far recorded by the president and few members of the association and relate it to the noise making and grandstanding posture of the so called executive members and the decide whether it's worthwhile to waste precious time attending an illegal meeting."
Also, reacting to the meeting, another member of the Labinjo-led faction; Al-Ja'afaru Braimoh said that the gathering was made to mislead members; he described the meeting as illegal.
Yet another member; Sola Oluwadare called for reconciliation. He said: “My advise to Mr. Tunji Brown and co is that if their interest is the growth and survival of the association, they should put aside their grievances, suspend all actions and temporarily reconcile with the President. After which they can call a general meeting to be held at the new secretariat. There and then they can bring to the hearing of the general assembly their grievances”.
On the face-off with the association’s president, he maintained that: “Any matter that concerns the association’s President is too big and too strategic for some handful executives to decide. No matter the emotion and sentiment attached, this decision cannot stand in any civil society. They should know that the association has a Constitution which these executives swore to defend and abide by. The constitution does not allow them to do what they have done and are doing.”
Also aligning with the pro-Labinjo faction, the Lagos Coordinator Capt Taiwo Franklin Akinpelumi maintained that the Wednesday meeting was illegal. “There is no way actions of these few dissidents which is premised on nothing can amount to something”.
“It is contemptuous and gross violation of the intent and the provisions of NISA constitution for some disgruntled members we voted into office at the first instance to subject any of us to an unconstitutional and mischievous screening / verification exercise and to also expect us to attend an illegal Annual General Meeting”, he stated.
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