“ANLCA is one united big family. We no longer have any group”. These were the exact words of the President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Sir Emenike Nwokeoji in response to a question from this newspaper during an interview in February this year.
He was responding to a question about the need to have a united ANLCA, especially after the protracted internal crises that rocked the oldest freight forwarding association in Nigeria, to its foundation.
The emergence of a new National Executive Committee (NECOM) headed by Sir Emenike Nwokeoji ended almost five years of strive.
It is a fact that the association has yet to fully recover from the acrimony of the long-drawn rift. It is also true that the wounds are yet to fully heal, if it ever will!
One sure way of ensuring a permanent healing of the wounds of the past is the coming elections of members of the board of the association.
It has been confirmed that, even though 15 members will contest, only 9 will be elected as members of the board. Then, do we foretell that the contestants who have coalesced into the ‘Group of 9’ is a coalition of would-be BoT members of ANLCA.
Members of this group are: Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Mr Kingsley Offor, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Utai, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, Adeola Mummuney, Chief Sunday Momoh, Tunde Awonuga, Chief Dennis Okafor, and Chief Dayo Azeez.
The list comprises of members of the old Board and aspiring members. They have promised to
serve ANLCA with dedication and resources, giving back to a profession that has significantly benefited them. There promises range from mundane to the laughable and the ridiculous.
The group of nine candidates vying for membership of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ANLCA has unveiled a comprehensive six-point agenda which they flaunt as what they intend to pursue if elected.
Yes, alliances and coalition such as what the Group of 9 Contestants in the BoT elections, that is coming up this week, represents are good, on the surface. But deeper, this coalition certainly represents what the association peculiarly does not need at this point in time.
Rather than the intention of its promoters, under the circumstances in which ANLCA has found itself, this coalition may hurt the recuperating ANLCA, especially in the short run.
Apart from being the first time such an arrangement is being brought into the open; it (above all) presupposes the existence of fear of a dissenting force, which must therefore not be allowed in the present dispensation.
Yes, the group said it is interested in “peace, harmony, unity, and stability between the board and the national executive to ensure ANLCA’s progress and impact”. However, this ideal would be best achieved by a broad-based membership of the BoT, in a free and fair election, devoid of blocs or personal interests veiled as common good
The G-9 also said it was important to have “like-minded individuals working together to protect and secure the association’s future”. Really? Time will tell that these ‘wise men’ are not like-minded, but self-interest-minded.
There are two indications that those who love ANLCA should be weary of as elections come up: Groupings and coalitions such as the G-9 Contestants could best be described as a contraption of a few to control the association —Period! Democracy thrives when opportunities for disagreements and dissentions are inherent in the process leading to leadership and governance.
Second: The festering of G-9 is also an indication that the current National Executive Committee (NECOM) may not be ready for total healing of the wounds of the past years. It is a time-tested fact that, winners don’t take all, especially in post ‘crises’ era.
Going through what the G-9 has promised, it is obvious that it lacks a clear understanding of the roles of the BoT of ANLCA. The contraption lacks common, realizable objectives. This is the danger inherent in groupings such as the G-9.
Rather than allow what the G-9 represents to come to be, which is the tendency for winners to take all, lovers of ANLCA should nip it in the bud. A recuperating ANLCA needs all to come with ideas to navigate the association back to life and relevance.
Without disrespect to the individuals who are successful businessmen in their own rights and who have encamped under the umbrella of G-9, it will be pleasant to see that this covertly selfish, cowardly and unhealthy contraption does not sweep the polls.
It will also not be a shock if they all emerge as BoT members. It could only mean that ANLCA will have a NECOM of winner-takes-all and a BoT of winner-takes-all!
May some of them drop by the way side, for ANLCA to fully- heal.
