ASIMPIN PAYS SOLIDARITY VISIT TO ANLCA PRESIDENT
…as he cautions maritime reporters on fanning the embers of discord via unbalanced reportage
By Mcanthony Onuoha
The leadership of Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria- ASIMPIN on Thursday, the 7th of March, 2024 paid a courtesy call on the National President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents- ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji at the Association’s National Secretariat, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
ASIMPIN National Officers were led by its President General, HRH, Eze Amb. Damian Emeka Obianigwe, KSM.
In his welcome address, the ANLCA National President expressed deep appreciation to ASIMPIN leadership for the august visit. Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji who mounted the saddle as ANLCA Helmsman after his victory in a keenly contested National Executive Committee(NECOM) Election at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos six months ago, told those present that their visit was remarkable as Thursday, 7th of March was exactly six months he was elected into office as National President of ANLCA.
Nwokeoji, who was in the best of moods, pledged to be a good Igbo ambassador, and to be fair and just to everyone regardless of ethnicity and religion adding that ANLCA remained a National Association.
Speaking, the President General of ASIMPIN assured Nwokeoji of his unwavering support and urged members of ASIMPIN to stand solidly behind him.
In his speech, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of ASIMPIN, Chief Peter Obi described the National President of ANLCA as a perfect gentleman and an illustrious Son of Igbo land. He advised Igbo maritime practitioners and members of ANLCA to support the President in repositioning the association for greater glory.
In his speach, the Vice Chairman of ANLCA Board of Trustees, and ASIMPIN Deputy President, Prince Ozo Chukwurah, passionately sued for lasting peace and pledged total support for Nwokeoji. Prince Chukwurah who openly vowed to stand behind Nwokeoji come rain, come shine said that he would rather leave the association than to work against Nwokeoji’s administration.
Also present at the event were the National Vice President of ANLCA, Prince Olusegun Oduntan, National Secretary, Mr. Olamide Fakanlu, National Publicity Secretary of ASIMPIN, Dr. Obicee Okonkwo, National Secretary of ASIMPIN, Prince Okey Egbuchulam, National Financial Secretary of ASIMPIN, Mazi Isaac Ndukwe, High Chief Isidore Agoha, Elder Chukwudi Ike, Chief Pius Ujubuoñu, Dr. Ben Nwokeka and Chapter Chairmen of ASIMPIN. Also at the event was the Women Wing of ASIMPIN, Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) Chapter led by Fwdr. Mrs. Patricia Agboje.
In an interactive session with Journalists immediately after the event, the National President of ANLCA dismissed with a wave of hand report from some quarters on fresh cracks on ANLCA structure, saying that some reports are not newsworthy, especially the report of the resignation of the ASECO Chairman, Nze Aloy Igwe. He pointed out that his relinquishing the office did not mean there was crack on the Association’s structure and cautioned the media on crying wolf where there is none.
According to Nwokeoji, ” people are free to express their grievances, it is their right, and if ASECO Chairman resigns, that does not mean there is a crack in the association. Because of how democratic we are, people are free to express themselves, it is normal in life, you can have little skirmishes but the bottom line is that we are focused and we know where we are going, ANLCA is one big family. ”
When asked about ASIMPIN’s visit, Nwokeoji stated that other ethnicities including the Oodua and Arewa groups have officially paid him a courtesy call earlier on.
According to Nwokeoji, ” since we won elections six months ago, Ndigbo have been looking for an appropriate day to come and pay solidarity visit to us and that visit happened today being exactly six months l was elected into office, that was on 7th September 2023.”
” They made demands and pointed out that the Igbos are not properly represented in my team and that we should look for a way of balancing it. And other important issues were also discussed “, Nwokeoji disclosed.
