ANLCA ELECTION: COLE’S CAMPAIGN FLAG OFF RECORDS HUGE SUCCESS
— Opponents Collapse Structures
— Offers 100 Free WAEC Forms to Indigent students as he launches Wale Cole Maritime Foundation
By Mcanthony Onuoha
Massive turnout was recorded on Friday, 17th January, 2025, as Prince Olawale Cole flagged off his Chairmanship campaign at Tincan Port.
Cole, who is contesting for the office of Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents-ANLCA, Tincan Chapter, was in high spirit as members of the foremost maritime association took their turns to endorse him as the next Tincan Chapter Chairman.
The overwhelming endorsement by members of the association as well as other maritime stakeholders, did not only clear doubts of outright victory for Prince Wale Cole, but also sent jitters down the spines of those in the opposition. If feelers within the association are something to go by, their are indications that two other candidates have stepped down, leaving Cole as sole candidate for Tincan Chapter Chairmanship election.
The campaign flag- off ceremony which had the President of Oodua Maritime Forum, Chief Oye Ariyo in attendance, was graced by other revered chieftains of the association, including Alhaji Usman Baba( Lungwu), Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Barr. Ada Akpunonu, Mr. Ojo Peters Akintoye(OPA), Alhaji, Muhammed Mojeed Akanni, Chief Sonniel Onochie, Alhaji Lameen, and the Chairman elect, Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria- ASIMPIN, Mazi Isaac Ndukwe (Okwadike), and a host of others.
At the event, Chief Oye Ariyo, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi; Ojo Peters Akintoye, Alhaji Mojeed Akanni and other chieftains of the Association threw their weight behind Cole as he launched a None Governmental Organization (NGO), Wale Cole Maritime Foundation to assist the less privileged.
Speaking at the event, Prince Wale Cole said, ” it is not because l am contesting to become a Chairman, l have always had the passion for helping people. I am happy to announce to you the Prince Olawale Cole Maritime Foundation which l am hereby launching right away. For a start, today, we want to give 100 lucky people a chance to pick up their WAEC forms”.
Cole expressed optimism that the election would be peaceful and hitch- free.
“According to Cole, ” gone are the days we chased ourselves with machetes and guns because of election. There is no group that can have everything, and l want us to have it in mind that when elections are over, we must all put heads together and work for our collective good”.
Continuing, Prince Olawale Cole said, ” l want to assure all the aspirants that we are all together, whatever the outcome of the political resolution and consultations that are ongoing, it is the decision of the elders that we are going to abide by”.
” I want to assure you all, be you Igbo or Hausa or Yoruba, we are all going to work together as one, l am giving you that promise. Let’s all come together, rebrand ANLCA and continue in unison”, Cole stated.
Meanwhile, Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria-ASIMPIN, Tincan Chapter delegation, was led to the flag off ceremony by the Chairman elect, Mazi Isaac Ndukwe (Okwadike).
In his speech, Ndukwe described Cole as a highly detribalised Nigerian and a man of integrity. He said he was not in doubt of Cole’s leadership ingenuity, and that he was optimistic that he would outperform his predecessors as Tincan Chapter Chairman of ANLCA. Ndukwe, on behalf of ASIMPIN Tincan Chapter, went ahead and pledged support for Cole’s administration if elected Tincan Chapter Chairman of ANLCA.
At the event, Cole presented his leadership blueprint for TinCan Chapter which included competitiveness, stability, growth, security, advocacy, inclusive representation, and healthcare.
He went ahead and pledged to modernize the association’s secretariat, implement digital systems for hitchfree and organized operations, and collaborate with Lagos State initiatives to create jobs and enhance individual skills.
The Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Emmanuel Onyeama, who was also the Master of Ceremony, gave opportunities to individuals for their goodwill messages. The event ended on a very peaceful note.
