There seems to be a new twist to the leadership crisis rocking the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) as another member of the board and former president of the association; Aare Sanni Shittu has indicated interest in the Chairmanship of the board.
Aare Sanni Shittu reportedly made his intentions known during a meeting of the Oodua Maritime Forum which held in Lagos last week. Even though Shipping Position Daily correspondent was barred from the meeting, sources however confirmed at the end of the meeting, that Aare Sanni Shittu’s ambition is already dividing Yorubas in ANLCA.
While some members were in agreement that it is only proper for Aare Shittu to succeed the incumbent board chairman; Henry Njoku, others were of the opinion that he should step aside and allow Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, another Yoruba man to be the board chairman.
Confirming the meeting to Shipping Position Daily, Secretary of the ANLCA BoT; Prince Taiye Oyeniyi said it was true that Aare Shittu has indicated interest in the controversial board’s chairmanship; he however vowed that it would never be given to him.
Speaking with our correspondent at the weekend, he said, “after we explained everything to them (Oodua maritime) nobody was against the fact that a Yoruba man should take over the BoT chairmanship, but the man that was not there when we were carrying out the struggle is now indicating interest and it is not possible, we have done our elections and nobody can change it”
“Who will give it to him? He indicated his interest at the meeting and I have explained to him that it is not possible, you can quote me on this, we have discussed it and agreed upon it”
“Yesterday, Taiwo Mustapha who is chairman was not in attendance, Dayo Azeez too was not there, I was the only one, and on my part I have explained to them why it is not possible for him (Aare Shittu) to become board chairman”, he added.
Also speaking with our correspondent, a reliable source in the Oodua Maritime Forum who pleaded anonymity said that there was nothing wrong in allowing Aare Shittu to emerge as the board chairman.
“It is true that baba is coming out for chairman BoT of ANLCA, those opposing his ambition, who are they? Are they the ones to conduct the election? What is their stress? There are two factions already and there is no doubt that Aare Sanni Shittu has his own supporters in the BoT and in the NECOM”
“Let us be sincere to ourselves, if we want to look at it by merit, by experience and so on, he is the one entitled to that position, but we Yorubas failed to do the right thing, from inception, he could have been the chairman board, but because Yorubas are not up and doing”
“Those in the BOT, because of money they allowed an Igbo man to emerge just because we don’t want to spend money, if they had spoken with one voice and lobbied, it could have been an easy thing”, he told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, some members of the association who kicked against the move by Aare Shittu suspected foul play between him and Henry Njoku, saying that he (Shittu) would become a stooge of the embattled incumbent BoT chairman.
Chief Henry Njoku was reportedly voted out as BoT Chairman of ANLCA on the eve of the inauguration of the new National Executive officers.
The election reportedly saw five out of eight members voting against Njoku and bringing in Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha.
Njoku in an interview with Shipping Position Daily recently however said that the election was not binding, he even denied reports that he has been given ultimatum of six weeks to conduct elections and handover his position to Alhaji Mustapha.
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