IS ELECTION THE SOLUTION TO ANLCA’S PROBLEMS?

Oladipo Bolade (PRO, ANLCA Tin Can Island)
I want to say that anywhere in the world where democracy is being practiced; election is a compulsory thing that must be observed periodically, so why not in ANLCA? The association is based on this and so it must be carried out on a level plain ground and a serene atmosphere, this will encourage candidates that are willing to run for any position.

Conducting the election is one of major challenges that have been confronting and threatening the association and in situations like this, you have to first of all tackle the major problem; therefore having the election quickly will be a solution.
In our last national executive council meeting, a caretaker committee has been constituted to run the affaires of all the chapters and also, it has been resolved that within the next 90 days or so there will be elections in all chapters.

Ezekiel Ejabukwa (Clearing Agent)
Election is not the only solution to the problem of ANLCA, everything has to do with corruption and I believe that we need to work on that too. Today, everybody is clamouring to contest and be voted for but deep down, majority of them are just fighting for their pockets and not the association’s interest.

I believe selfish interest is the major contention and that is why you will see somebody saying ‘its either our man is there or there will be no election’, everybody is fighting for his own clique because there is something they are getting from that office; if not they won’t be killing themselves because of it.
It is the people that should call you to serve when they believe you are capable of holding the position, officers should be elected and not to be appointed.
So, they should allow people to go and vote without influencing them in one way or the other, it should not be a do or die affair.

However, with the present ASECO chairman on board, I believe everything will run smoothly because the man has a lot of experience that has come over the years.

Chief Achike Molokwu (Vice Chair) ANLCA, Tin Can chapter)
I will start by saying that the ANLCA of today has no administrative leadership right from the national level down to the lowest, the time of the administration has elapsed since November 2008 and according to the protocol, the BOT, as custodians should be the one to take over the affairs of the association and make sure another election takes place under 90 days after which they go back as custodians.
Without the chapter elections there can not be election at the national level because it is the once at the chapters that will bring in the national executives but we have not been able to have any elections.

Failure of the elections is affecting the association seriously. Since November last year till now there have been no administrative officers and I will just advice that the BOT should make sure they resolve this fracas quickly so that ANLCA will regain its place in the industry.

Alhaji Alawode O.C (Clearing Agent)
I believe that if there is a free and fare election which has always been the tradition, there won’t be problems, when you democratize by choosing a leadership that is generally accepted, then things will augur well. Association is about people of like minds coming together to operate, it is voluntary and not mandatory, so I don’t see any reason why there should be problems, self interest should not be made to overshadow that of the association.

Abdulrasaq Arabambi (Clearing Agent)
The election issue is not the only problem that should be looked into, the leaders themselves are corrupt and they are not being sincere, they don’t carry the members along at all, we know many of them before they get into office, but after they get there they will start acquiring cars and working for themselves alone. ASECO should not be in a hurry to just conduct the election; they should first screen those contesting so as to know if they qualify or not.

Another point I want to make as a way of suggestion is that our people should realise that it is not a do or die affair, they should know that when one tenure ends, another starts; because everything is based on tenures, there is no need of employing violence.

Onyeasola Kalu (maritime consultant)
Having normal election is not the only solution to the associations’ problem, the tribalism issue has to be looked into too and be solved once and for all.
There should also be efforts by the leaders to bring young ones into the association, this is very necessary so as to ensure continuity.