By Uzor Odigbo
Former Deputy National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Emenike Nwokeoji has emerged as the new National President, replacing Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike after beating the immediate past Acting National President, Dr Kayode Farinto with Ten (10) votes.
While Emenike Nwokeoji polled a total of thirty-three (33) votes to emerge as the National President, his arch-rival, Dr. Kayode Farinto polled twenty-three (23).
Former Chairman of Tincan Island Port chapter, Prince Olusegun Oduntan polled twenty-nine (29) votes to beat Chief Dennis Okwu, who polled twenty-seven (27) votes to emerge as the Deputy National President.
Mr Olumide Fakanlu polled twenty-nine votes to beat Chief Lawrence Ubah and Chief Chunks Aaron Okolo who polled twenty-two (22) and five (5) votes respectively to emerge the National Secretary of ANLCA.
For the post of Assistant National Secretary, Nze Theodore Ejezie polled thirty-four votes to beat his closet rival, Mr. Alabi Olusegun, while the position of the Financial Secretary was uncontested for and would be filled through a by-election.
The immediate past National Financial Secretary, Hajia Bola Muse won with twenty-eight (28) votes to beat her opponent, Alhaji Azeez Afolabi who polled twenty-five (25) votes to emerge the National Treasurer whereas Mr Emmanuel Onyeme emerged unopposed as the National Publicity Secretary.
Mr Femi Anifowose won with twenty-one (21) votes to beat Mr Soleji Goddy Sewa who polled nineteen (19) votes to emerge as the Zonal Coordinator, Western Zone. In contrast, Mr. Idowu Owoade emerged unopposed as the Zonal Secretary of the Western Zone. Mr Joshua Ohuama and Mrs Chinyere C. Okere emerged unopposed as Zonal Coordinators and Secretary of the Eastern Zone whereas Alhaji Lameen Aliyu emerged unopposed as the Zonal Coordinator the northern zone.
Speaking shortly after his declaration as the National President of ANLCA, Chief Emenike Nwokeoji said that his job was half done as the newly elected executive of the association were drawn from the two opposing camps. “So, we are going to work together The job to be done is enormous but with God, we will overcome”, he said.
Emenike disclosed that his priority would be to pursue peace, restore all that was lost in the association so that the association could move forward even as he added that “we can’t make progress without peace. So, once we have peace, other things will fall in. When all of us are working as a unit, the sky will be out limit.”
He assured that going forward, things were going to change.
Speaking on those who contested the election against him, the new ANLCA boss said, “There is nothing like opponent, all of us are winners, we are going to work together to achieve our common target. All of us operate from the same port, so the port serves all of us. If things are good both those that are here and those that are not here, both those that are ANLCA members and those who are not, they will all benefit from it.”
Meanwhile, the newly elected ANLCA National Executive Committee, NECOM has been sworn into office immediately.
