Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents (ANLCA), has advised members to avoid patronizing godfathers ahead of the forth-coming Chapters Elections in the Zone.
The President of the association Prince Olayiwola shittu, gave the warning while addressing executive officers and members of chapters of the Western Zone at a Zonal meeting held at the National Secretariat, in Lagos, recently.
According to him, “Politics of godfatherism causes division and unhealthy rivalry among members and patronizing godfathers or encouraging them in the electoral process would jeopardize the dream of building a great, united and truly professional association.”
“We should not allow negative forces to divide us because of elections. Elections would come and go, and ANLCA will remain as one, so there is no need playing into the hands of self-styled godfathers who have nothing positive to offer,’’ he cautioned.
He reiterated his strong desire to work towards ensuring total unity and professionalism of ANLCA during his tenure as National President, calling on all members to key into that vision.
Earlier, in his opening address, the Western Zonal Coordinator, ANLCA, Comrade John Ofobike, told members that his office, in conjunction with the Association Electoral Commission (ASECO), is poised to ensure that the forth-coming Chapters elections in the Zone are hitch-free.
He said the crisis which usually trailed elections in the Zone in the past were due to the activities of those with self-interest and interior motives.
He warned against those playing tribal polities in the association to desist from it, “The era of seeing Apapa Chapter as being for Yorubas, Tin-Can Island Chapter for Igbos and the like, no longer holds water in the electoral process.
ANLCA operates on free and fair electoral process based on the ASECO guidelines. Every bonafide qualified member has equal opportunity to aspire to any position in the Association.
Comrade Ofobike commended the ASECO Chairman, Alhaji Abdulazeez Babatunde Mukaila and his team for building a credible data base to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants.
On his part, the Chairman of ASECO, Alhaji Abdulazeez Babatunde Mukaila, commended the Zonal Coordinator for taking special interest in the electoral process. Stressing that the involvement of the Zonal Coordinator in the sensitization process has been of tremendous help to the electoral body in its preparations for the forth-coming WesternZone Chapters’ Elections.
Alhaji Abdulazeez said the election procedure is open to all to know who is qualified or not to participate.
