By Innocent Orok
One of the most celebrated victories at the just concluded Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) chapters elections is that of the Tin Can Island Port Chapter. With a landslide victory of Wale Cole as the Chairman and his team, the chapter is well position to take back its lost glory.
In this chat with Roamrepporters Online, Prince Ozo Chukwura , who was nicknamed “the Governor” in 1999 as a Pacesetter and leader of the Tin Can Island chapter pour out his joy, appreciation and prayers to all those who made it happen, particularly saying he has officially handed over the title of “the Governor” of Tin Can to Wale Cole, the new chapter chairman.
Prince Ozo Chukwura who is also the immediate past Vice Chairman, ANLCA BOT said ANLCA is taking back his glory in the pride of place. He started by congratulating the National President of ANLCA, Mr Emineke Nwokeoji for being able to whether the storm to keep ANLCA together.
” I want to first of all congratulate the National President of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, when he assumed office as National President he met a disunited and divided ANLCA, yet he was able to whether the storm up to date.
” I must not fail to give special thanks individually in their roles in making ANLCA great again. In our BOT election, some people were humiliated and disenfranchised, yet they are still members of ANLCA. I thanked people like Dr Kayode Farinto, Eniola Igbariola, Babatunde Mukaila and Dennis Ukwu. I still give kudos and special recognition to John Ofobike for being strong and steadfast and his love for ANLCA.
” I will not fail to recognize an independent mind, a strong, but underated individual, in the person of Obiora Elochukwu, the present ASECO Chairman. He has surprised many. But my greatest and highest recognition , personally goes to Prince Wale Cole, the new “Governor of Tin Can Island Chapter of ANLCA.
” Through this interview, I have officially and sincerely handed over my title as the ” Governor” of Tin Can to Wale Cole as the new “Governor” of Tin Can Island Chapter, have dropped my title to him.”
On the conduct of the chapter elections and his expectations, Prince Ozo Chukwura said ” Am appealing to the Board of Trustees (BOT) and all ANLCA members to allow and support Obiora Elochukwu ( ASECO Chairman) to finish his work. Because further crises in ANLCA will never help anybody. But, most sincerely, I will also congratulate my big brothers, Chief Henry Njoku and Sir Ernest Elochukwu, while appealing to them to put their differences aside , so that ANLCA will rise more than it is now. Congratulations to all those who love ANLCA.”
On why he has decided to congratulate all this people and the conduct of the election having being a leader from the other faction, he said,
” From the time of Kamba, we have been having divided interests, even in your family, but that doesn’t remove you from the family.Interest will never die, but human beings will come and go. Some names are no more heard in ANLCA today, but those who are in the association today will fight to make same ANLCA remain one”.
Ozo also spoke on why he decided to hand over his title as ” Governor ” of Tin Can after over 20 years since he left office in 1999 and his expectations from Wale Cole as the new ” Governor” of Tin Can Chapter.
” I won the first election at Tin Can Island Chapter in 1999, people came together and gave me the title the “Governor of Tin Can”. I did not give it to myself , they gave it to me as a nickname, they felt then that I have the capacity to govern that big port of Tin Can. When Tin Can, Brawal, SCOA, SIFAX , PTML, all of them were under Tin Can”.
Why he decided to hand over the title to Wale Cole, after many Chairmen have come and gone- Ozo Chukwura said: “They all came in their own different ways and styles. Dr Kayode Farinto came, a highly educated individual in ANLCA. Oyinola came with his own style, but this young man , Wale Cole , came like a Tsunami, that nobody could resist. Wale Cole came with a Tsunami that nobody could win him in Tin Can.
” That was how Prince Ozo Chukwura came in 1998, won the election with Tsunami, which I relinquished it to Olatunde, who later supported me to win again in 1999. It was the way and manner I collected the key to Tin Can that Prince Taiye Oyeniyi was holding and Oye supported me, that is when they gave me the title ” Governor of Tin Can”.
” Now that Wale Cole came with too much strength, he did not collect the key from me , because am no longer in office, he bulldoze his way and won the chapter election at Tin Can, he is now the new “Governor ” of Tin Can Island Chapter of ANLCA.
On his expectations from Wale Cole, haven’t regarded him as his political godson” To always maintain peace and unity in ANLCA, not to see himself as a tin god , but to be humble. So long God has given me a second chance to be alive , I will continue to advice him. I have absolute confidence in him.”
Finally, Ozo Chukwura message to stakeholders to support Wale Cole and ANLCA to succeed, he said ” Many things happens in government. The way it is now is not they way it was then. I will advise him to work , more especially collaboration with NAGAFF people and give due respect to all the executives of NAGAFF, while I will beg them to reciprocate. Though, no organize competition, but there are individuals interest.
