BY EGUONO ODJEGBA
The Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha has expressed dismay over the alleged booing of its two patrons during the association’s botched National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held recently at its national secretariat, Lagos.
While suing for peace and avoidance of actions that may scuttle the ongoing peace resolutions and create fresh crisis, he apologized to the said patrons, even as he has called a meeting of the Board, NECOM, ASECO and all contestants at the forthcoming election for Monday, July 10,2023.
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In a released made available to our reporter, Mustapha said:
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), l Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha as the chairman extends warn greetings to all our professional colleagues in the association.
“In view of developments of recent, l am minded to bring all of us up to date and to remind us about our collective resolve to put our house in order.”
His message which highlights four crucial areas of interventions includes the following:
“Without any gainsaying, we all agree that ANLCA is going through the roughest turbulence in her history. But I have no doubt that calm and clearer weather is ahead.
“I was outside the country about two weeks ago when it was brought to my attention that the emergency NEC meeting called by NECOM became rowdy and ended up inconclusive as a result of the objections by some of our members who believed that NECOM and our patrons were screaming to activate a 2001 registered BOT to take over the affairs of ANLCA and to supervise the forthcoming election.
“Posterity will judge whatever must have been the true position, because the patrons have all expressed disgust to that misconception. l however believe that inspite of whatever disagreements or provocations, it is my belief that our members must learn to accord our leaders and particularly the patrons and former presidents who have put in so much efforts in sustaining this association the due respect they deserve, and be treated with dignity.
“On this note, I call on the patrons who were affected to please accept my apology on behalf of the newly constituted BOT.
“I will also like to use this medium to reinstate in clear terms that the new board has come to stay despite whatever letter from the CAC. Whoever calls for anything outside should not only be seen and treated as the devil’s advocate, but also as agent of disunity, and must be resisted with all vigor.
“I understand that arising from disagreements at the said NEC Meeting, one of our member, Mr. Olumide Fakunle has obtained a Federal High Court injunction from the Anambra State Division against further proceedings with electoral matters. I quite agree that every Nigerian has the undisputable right to approach the court of law to seek redress aimed at getting justice.”
He continues: “However I wish to appeal that members should learn to first of all utilize ANLCA Internal Dispute Resolution mechanism before taking any further step.
“With reference to the dispute resolutions initiated by CRFFN, and agreed to by the waring parties which dovetailed into the formation of the new BOT and the new ASECO at the EKO Hotels dispute resolution meeting, it was agreed that all pending court and police cases MUST be withdrawn and no new one should be initiated to allow the ceasefire to metamorphose to a new slate of peace and harmony in ANLCA.
“In view of this, l want to plead with Fakanlu to make a retreat by initiating move to immediately withdraw the case as a participant in the coming NECOM election to be conducted by the eight-man ASECO, and supervised by the new eight-man board.”
The board chairman also urged members to dismiss rumours of attempt to resuscitate a provocative so-called 2001 registered BoT, noting that such effort is an invitation to chaos, and assured that the purported 2001 BoT will treated as a satanic article.
“Onece again, let me at this juncture, reassure everyone that the eight-man BOT chaired by my humble self remains in full control and is irrevocably committed to the unbiased pursuit of the peace resolution and to deliver a free, fair and credible election, not only at the national level, but also at the chapters’ level.
“I want to further assure that the Board will not compromise on its responsibilities or be afraid to stand up to what is right and legitimate in accordance with the ANLCA Supreme Constitution.
“As such, l respectfully hereby call on members to improve on our individual and collective conduct, and to recommit to the objective and mission of ANLCA as great family.
“Going forward, the Board has scheduled a meeting between it, ASECO, NECOM, the patrons, all the contestants and a few major stakeholders for Monday, July 10, 2023 and look forward to forging ahead with our planned NECOM election, amongst other issues.
“The Board therefore advises that every engagement already scheduled for the above mentioned date by individuals and groups within ANLCA, be kindly rescheduled.”