By Innocent Orok
As the campaign for the Western Zone Chapters election of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) coming up on February 20 hots up, two powerful groups have endorsed two credible Contestants for the election at Tin Can Island chapter.
In a well turn out campaign ceremony held at Apapa, two major professional sociocultural groups in the maritime sector, Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria ( ASIMPIN ) and Odua Maritime Practitioners have endorsed the Candidature of Chief Sonniel Onochie as Vice Chairman and Nwegbe Frankypaul as Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.
Speaking at the campaign rally , the Secretary of Customs Consultative Council and former President of NAGAFF, Dr Eugene Nweke said,
“Today, this election process is a step to move forward, because Oodua and Igbo maritime relationship has come a long way, what we are trying to project is not association leadership as usual, No, we have moved beyond as usual. Why? Because the maritime environment is very dynamic.
“We are looking forward to leadership of a chapter that is well informed, Leadership that will be driven by the nitty-gritty and understanding of this profession.When you argue your job, argue professionally, because you are informed, not begging.
“Enough of giving money where you are not supposed to give money. We want to see leadership that is represented, not one that is just going to wake up.
“So, the alliance between the Oodua and the Igbo maritime is for a purpose, to retrieve, to secure, to project, and to promote the freight forwarding profession in the maritime industry. So it’s not just about election.
“Election is a process of trying to get leadership. But for us, leadership must evolve on three bases, Capacity to lead, the Integrity to lead, and the viability and understanding of the job, that is the driving force of what we are trying to do.
“To that effect, today, the 10th day of February, in the year 2025, His Royal Majesty, our PG, endorses the candidature of Sonniel Onachie as the Vice-Chairman aspirant, and by the grace of God, become elected” Dr Nweke declared.
Dr Nweke also acknowledged the presence and support of the Vice President of Oodua Maritime, Ojo Peter Akintoye, the former Acting National President of ANLCA, Dr Kayode Farinto and a former Board of Trustees (BOT) member of ANLCA, Eniola Igbaroola.
He said these are people that ASIMPIN would love to give awards, for understanding brotherhood, and handshake across the Niger.
“On behalf of ASIMPIN Nigeria, on behalf of our PG, the board, and the national officers, we will not only make statements, but we will follow statements with action, that is why before you came, the PG has made a very big announcement in support of, financially, and those of you who witnessed the blessing here, a king drinks from a glass and gave to the two contestants and prayed for them, that is the height of blessing.
“What we are looking forward to is international trade, and i would always say this to anybody who cares to listen, if you don’t have any interest in trade, stay away, but if you have trade interest, then you are welcome.
“For Wale Cole, Sonniel Onachie and the Secretary, FrankyPaul, we expect a paradigm shift from what Tin Can used to be in terms of leadership, a new era, where ICT will drive your process.
“We must drive a change, it is either we drive this change at this point in time, or we are off from this profession. But we can’t go off from this profession.
“Ours is to give blessing, we are not decider of what happens at the polls, but there is what we we call, accord concordia. It’s that process of accord concordia, that we have driven, You go with this accord and the almighty will be with you” he said
Also speaking, Oodua Maritime Vice President, Ojo Peter Akintoye assured that the yoruba practitioners at Tin Can Port chapter would deliver their full votes for Sonniel and FrankyPaul.
“By what we have seen here today, it is now confirmed that Sonniel Onochie and FrankyPaul are the candidates of the Igbo land. Some people in ANLCA today have paid their dues, and I thank God that Sonniel is among them, including Frank, who is a young and vibrant man that we can be proud of in our profession, they deserve to be given a chance.
“The only candidates we have for Vice Chairman and Secretary at Tin Can chapter are; Sonniel Onochie and FrankyPaul. I am saying this on behalf of Oodua Maritime, which I am representing, we shall deliver the two of them in the election, we would come back here after the elections to celebrate” Akintoye declared.
The high point of the event was the endorsement and royal blessings from HRM Demian Obianigwe , the President General of ASIMPIN, for the two candidates and the watching of their hands by Dr Eugene Nweke and their hands raised up to go and conquer.
