By Mcanthony Onuoha
Igbo indigenes in the maritime sector, under the auspices of Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) have sent a warning message to the detractors of the National President of Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike, asking them to desist from working against his leadership.
The association declared its support for Nwabunike when members of the association converged on Tuesday, the 6th of October, 2020 to show solidarity with the ANLCA president.
The solidarity visit was inspired by the infighting that has been going on in the apex Maritime Association since the incumbent National President assumed office. Nwabunike’s leadership has been under one attack after the other as well as one Court summon after the other, by those who have vowed not to see him succeed as National President.
The visit which was coordinated by the Chief of Staff to the President General of ASIMPIN, Chief Law Uba,(Ugwu Ndi Igbo) on the approval of the PG, His Royal Majesty, Eze Demian Obianigwe, was to pass a message to detractors of the National President of ANLCA, that Igbos in the Maritime Sector are solidly behind Nwabunike.
The visit by ASIMPIN was one to elicit hope as the host, the National President of ANLCA, was emotionally overwhelmed seeing lgbo indigenes, representing various chapters of almost all the associations, not excluding Airport and Border Stations, troop in to pledge their support to his leadership.
Chairmen of various Chapters of ASIMPIN and representatives of other Maritime associations at the event extolled the virtues of Nwabunike, whom some described as a core professional who knows the Maritime to the tip of his fingers.
Speaking at the event, a chieftain of ANLCA, and Deputy President General of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria, Prince, (Dr.) Ozo Chukwurah, who couldn’t control his emotions called on well-meaning sons and daughters of Igbo land, not limited to the Maritime Industry, to call everyone involved in the ongoing conspiracy against Hon.Iju Tony Nwabunike to order. He asked those against the leadership of Nwabunike what exactly was their grouse that warranted such acrimonious attacks on the person of Nwabunike. He vehemently condemned the conspirators, describing them as enemies of Ndi Igbo.
Speaking to the Visitors, Hon Nwabunike said, as a man who had the fear of God and knew what peace meant, he had extended the olive branch to his detractors but later became fully convinced that the unrepentant elements are determined to mindlessly engineer the implosion of ANLCA, but promised this time around, to do all within his power to still the sinister storm.
Hon. Nwabunike, who passionately canvassed for unalloyed support for his leadership said he meant well for ANLCA as well as for every law abiding freight forwarder.
In his goodwill message, the Deputy National President of ANLCA, Dr.Kayode Farinto expressed his appreciation to the Visitors, saying he was overwhelmed with joy seeing such show of brotherhood. Dr. Farinto thereby charged ASIMPIN leadership, being the umbrella of Igbo Maritime Practitioners, to call detractors of Iju Tony Nwabunike to order. He lamented what he called “pull him down syndrome” among the lgbos, describing it as “an evil wind that blows no one any good”.
