ANCLA ‘Owambe’ Dance: My Observation
By Innocent Orok
LAGOS AUGUST 28TH (NEWSRANGERS)-First, I like to state that the job of a Journalist as the “Watch Dog of the Society” is to inform, educate and entertain the public, based on the writer’s proper interrogation of the issues on the ground with facts and balanced reporting in order not to misled or misinform the public, which can lead to public chaos. Sometimes and with maybe lack of knowledge of who a Journalist is, people often asked ” What is his interest in ANLCA, is he our Member”? For those who don’t understand what journalism stands for, let me put it this way, any matter or issues brought to the public domain or even the ones conceived in private is a Journalist business and that is why he is called ” The Watch Dog of the Society”.
Back to the Commotion and the macabre dance in the house of ANLCA which has decided not to fade away, instead the drama is producing different episodes and scenes every fourth night. For those who have been following the trend of happenings in the over 60 years old Customs Clearing Agents association, let’s quickly rewind our memories to the origin of the crises ,but in a summary stanzas.
ELECTIONS
I will try to skip or avoid mentioning names , except when absolutely necessary. The Board of Trustees ( BOT) election that brought in Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and co as BOT members was held in 2014 , there is no ambiguity or contest about that. And according to the ANLCA constitution, BOT members tenure is six (6), and if interested can contest for second tenure of another six years ( that was before their constitution was amended in 2020). That means the first six years of that BOT tenureship supposed to run from (2014-2020). Again no argument or quarrel over that.
Also, the Iju Tony Nwabunike and the present NECOM election was held in 2018 and according to the ANLCA constitution, before it was amended in 2020, the NECOM tenureship was four (4) years and a chance for another four years making it right (8) years .Again, Tony Nwabunike and his team won the election which their first four years runs from ( 2018- 2022), there is no issues or contest about that too.
WHAT ARE THEN THE ISSUES?
First, let’s interrogate the issues, If the tenure of the Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha BOT members 5 of them now out 8 was for (6) years which runs from (2014- 2020) and some of them have opportunity to go for second term , while some have served their maximum two tenures of 12 years and they are supposed to quite the stage according to the ANLCA constitution.And for those who’s first tenure ends 2020, why did they not stand for a second tenure contest at the AGM held in Owerri in 2020 to be voted for second term of six years? And for those who have served their maximum two tenures of 12 years, why have they refused to quit the board?. What is then the matter?
In the last four years, we have heard series of stories and analysis that could go for a whole season movies of the ANLCA debacle, but is high time we make bold to fact check the problems juxtapose it with how the matter can be resolved side by side with the ANLCA’s constitution. That is the only way in my opinion we can solve the problem, if only we put aside our interests , ego, emotions, sentiments, hatred, hierarchy and Money.
NOW, WHAT AND WHY THE 5 BOT MEMBERS HAVE REFUSED TO LEAVE ?.
If you follow my intro to this article, the now known Mustapha BOT faction has 5 members, they were originally 8, three have left the Board through one way or the other , why are these 5 still fighting?
Like the common saying goes” there is no smoke without fire’ and also the adage that also says “is either a man is pursuing something or something is pursuing a man.” From my common understanding of the long infighting and bickerings of different series in the ANLCA BoT which has turn the foremost association into public ridicule, first has to do with non recognition of the now famous ANLCA BOT 5. The whole trouble is said to be hinged on non recognition and being given their rightful place by the Tony Nwabunike’s led NECOM in their first tenure of 6 years (2014- 2020) as alleged by the ANLCA BOT 5
Secondly, as the ANLCA BOT 5, later got their official registration as board members from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) barely two months to the expiration of their first 6 years tenure.
They had insisted that their tenures just started, because according to them, the day they got their registration is the day their tenure starts. So the over five years they have spent as BOT members is what our Yoruba people will called “Sara”.And so the ANLCA BOT 5 have continued their rage for control of the soul of ANLCA.
The third factor why the ANLCA BOT 5 are grandstanding is that the present NECOM have been sacked by a court , though we have not seen the court order, neither from the court or from the Court beliff. If there is any and the current NECOM had refused, I think by now , either the court will order the sealed up of the place or commit the offenders to contempt of court or prison for refusing to vacate their offices by the order of the court.
On the issuance of the ANLCA BOT 5 CAC registration two months or so to the expiration of their first six years tenure, one may then asked, what is the position of CAC and the law in this quackmire? Again, we have heard of several court cases and injunctions with some just for trouble shooting and flexing of muscles and are not directly linked to the subject matter of discussion. We have also seen a purported letter of withdrawal of the said certificate by the CAC asking the 5 BOT members to return the certificate, that it was misled to issue such. Have the ANLCA BOT 5 return the CAC certificate to CAC or they are still parading it? If not returned, what has the CAC done to retrieve its certificate.?
DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BOT MEMBERS AS ELDER STATESMEN
A cursory look at the hullabaloo in the ANLCA house in the last four years, one is , but disappointed in both old and new BOT members of the association. One could have thought that with the election of nine (9) eminent and God gifted personalities into the ANLCA board in 2020. Men with wealth of experience, power and Money, that in a very short time they will rub minds together, both the old BoT and the new BOT to settle all differences and move ANLCA forward. But it seems in my own opinion , they all took the position and went to sleep. Oh how great men have failed their generation?.What is power, what is money , what is age and experience, when men could not use it to salvage humanity?
The peculiarity of the ANLCA Owambe dance with turns and twists is akin to the Nigerian leadership, we all complain, but no one wants to stake his/ her personality to correct the wrongs. We play to politics, interest, emotions, sentiments and gallery , yet we blame others. Who will rescue ANLCA?
Last line, like the common saying goes, when good men / rightous men failed to take action , then the evi ones are the king. Many people in ANLCA and beyond are shouting or blaming one man Iju Tony Nwabunike, or Kayode Farinto, lets be human and fair with true concience, there are many and more of these two men in ANLCA, where are they?. In fact to put the records straight, the whole wahala is in the ANLCA BOT and not Tony Nwabunike or Kayode Farinto. Where are the BOT Billionaires of ANLCA?
It is also instructive to note that, many in ANLCA today, who are fomenting trouble may be thinking they are fighting one or two men , but they forget power is transcend , it may be their turn tomorrow. That is why when I see the shannaigan that happens on Wednesday at the ANLCA’s National Secretariat, I begin to wonder. Have men forgotten What Jesus told Peter. ” Men who go by sword will die by the sword”. When you take power by violence, even in the military regime, bear in mind you will be toppled by violence, is the law of kamma.
ANLCA can be great again, if only genuine men of integrity and sincerity of purpose are willing and sincere to act. If not what will they tell their children and grandchildren as leaders of ANLCA at their time.
Citizen Innocent Orok is a Journalist based in Lagos state.
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Posted by News Rangers
on Aug 28 2022. Filed under Business, Features, National.
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