ANLCA 2023: BoT Frowns At Attack And Disruption of ENSO Campaign

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) condemned attacks on the campaign activities of the Emenike Nwokeoji and Segun Oduntan (ENSO) Team and their supporters, describing the attack and sponsors as enemies of progress, even as the board pledged to unravel those behind the attack.

While suing for peace, the board said it would no longer tolerate such primitive acts and warned those concerned to be responsible, articulate their campaign manifesto with winning appeals instead of resorting to pre-election acts of violence, noting that such tendencies is evidence of inferiority complex and a demonstration of lack of competence in an objective campaign atmosphere and electoral level playing field, which alone allows for fair and balanced electioneering contests.

BoT Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha in a statement signed by himself and made available to Pinnacle Time, the board urged contestants to focus on campaign of issues and desist from primitive Bushmen leadership tendencies that thrived on brute force; in past eras.

While condemning the attack and those behind it, Mustapha however warned that it was premature to accuse Dr. Kayode Farinto, a presidential aspirant in the contest as responsible for the attack, and urged members to restrain their utterances until a competent authority identity  those behind the incident.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Board of Trustees (BOT) has been drawn to the reported attacks on the Emenike Nwokeoji and Segun Oduntan (ENSO) campaign team, their supporters and some members of our great association at the Tin Can Island Chapter, yesterday August 3, 2023, during a campaign meeting.

“The BOT view this attack very strongly and condemn it in totality, and insist that it is reprehensible, provocative and unwarranted, and wish to put it on record that the BOT has reached out to the relevant Quarters and security agencies to assist us to investigate the attack and identify the attackers and their sponsors.

“This attack is not only one too many, but considered very disdainful and disgusting, especially at a time of healing,  when we have resolved to live in peace and to move forward in the light of the recent Customs Consultative Council Peace Accord.”

The statement continues: “On behalf of the Board, l like to seize this medium to apologise to the ENSO Team and to assure them of the board’s preparedness to identify the perpetrators and their sponsors and to expose them, accordingly.

“We appeal to all contestants to engage in campaign of issues and go about their campaigns peacefully, and urge contestants to refrain from acts of hooliganism and attacks on opposition camps, as such acts merely portray negative tendencies of lack of focus and lack of capacity.

“The BOT would like to also condemn the statement by one of the western zone leaders for rushing to conclusion by accusing the other team leader Kayode Farinto of being responsible for the attack. This is appalling, and we amazed at these recent developments and warn that those responsible should behave and face up to reality of true leadership service based on competence and acceptability.

“Once again, on behalf of the BOT, l want to specially apologize to Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji, his running mate, Price Segun Odunta, the entire ENSO group and our teeming members on the unfortunate incident.

“I insist that we should all give peace a chance and support this healing process and allow the oncoming election run its course without further negative interferences. We bold to say that any contestant found wanting going about crude campaign is facing disqualification.”