Even though elections have come and gone, but there are indications that trouble and in-fighting among top members of the association has taken over at the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA).
Even though elections have come and gone, but there are indications that trouble and in-fighting among top members of the association has taken over at the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA).
Last week, two executives resigned their positions, Shipping Position Daily however gathered that there has been serious in- fighting between the Managing Director of C and I Leasing Company,; Chief Ndu Chukwuemeka, who resigned and another top member of the association; the Managing Director Oceanic Energy Limited, Captain Taiwo Franklin Akinpelumi over the post of the association’s Lagos state coordinator.
A document obtained by our correspondent revealed that Akinpelumi was initially contesting for the position of secretary general before the sudden interest to become coordinator.
Chukwuemeka in a statement alleged that there have been moves by some powerful members of the association to frustrate him out of the position and to bring in Akinpelumi, even though he (Chukwuemeka) won the position legitimately.
But, in a swift recation through a statement sent to members of the association, Akinpelumi said: "I received Mr Emeka Ndu e-mail, reacting to my expression of interest to contest for the position of Coordinator (Lagos Zone) with great shock.
"I challenge him to substantiate his damning claims by naming, according to him people making frantic efforts to smuggle me in"
"As a bonafide member of NISA, I have every right and entitlement to aspire to any position in the association, so long it's done within the confines of the association constitution."
"I had written to the Secretariat concerning my intention to contest for this position over four weeks ago and also followed the e-mail with calls to the ASSECO.
Let me state categorically here that no executive position is the exclusive preserved nor birth right of any member, as a matter of fact, it is very healthy for a position to be keenly contested to encourage and guarantee the emergence of the best, well qualified and most competent candidate; candidate who will serve the interest of members diligently and accrue benefits to them.
"I will like to inform our esteem members that I'm in the contest for the position of Coordinator (Lagos Zone) genuinely to win it; I was never and can never be smuggled in through the back door, as was erroneously inferred by Mr Emeka Ndu".
Ndu’s own reaction which was also obtained by our correspondent read in part: "The list of members who were nominated by the closing date was circulated for all to see. Your name wasn't there as you weren't validly nominated as at the closing date for nominations. Facts speak for themselves."
"Regarding the campaigns, I must note that the agenda of the association is set by the President, in consultation with the Exco, so any attempts to set an independent agenda by any member of the executive could be counter-productive, hence my seeming quietness as I regard this as a call to service and not a contest for booty.
"Serving the shipping industry, as I have done in the past when I chaired committees set up by both NNPC and NIMASA to promote local content in shipping, will consume my time and resources."
" This is a call that I answered prayerfully when I duly completed my forms to contest. I would gladly have contested the position with you if you had actually been nominated for the position.".
Efforts to reach either of the warring parties to ascertain if any truce has been reached were futile as at press time.
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