The National President of the Oodua Maritime Forum, Chief Oye Ariyo, has urged members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) in the Western Zone to vote exclusively for Yoruba candidates for the position of chairmanship in the forthcoming chapter elections, while allowing candidates of Igbo or Hausa origin to be considered for other positions.
Speaking at the manifesto declaration of Alhaji Ahmed Oladele Bello, a Yoruba contender for chairmanship at the KLT chapter, Ariyo stressed that the decision was made to preserve the cultural and regional identity of the Western Zone.
“We had a meeting in Apapa last year, and we all agreed that all chapters in the Western Zone must be led by a Yoruba person. We do not have a single Yoruba chairman in the East, and we believe it’s only fair that leadership in our region remains with the Yoruba. However, we have no issues with supporting Igbos or Hausas for other positions within the chapter,” Ariyo explained.
The declaration was echoed by Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, a patron of ANLCA and former Secretary of the Board of Trustees, who also lent his backing to the Oodua Maritime Forum’s position. He reiterated that while all candidates are valued equally, it is essential to uphold the heritage and interests of the Yoruba people in the Western Zone.
“As a patron, I support the decision of the Oodua Maritime Forum. The Western Zone is Oodua land, and we must ensure our heritage and interests are safeguarded. This is not about division but about unity within our region,” Oyeniyi emphasized.
