.… ASIMPIN Says Chukwu Not A Financial Member From Day One
A chieftain of the Igbo elders council , Sir Osita Chukwu Patrick has threatened to revive the Igbo Maritime Forum as part of efforts to checkmate the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners In Nigeria (ASIMPIN).
Igbo Maritime Forum was the initially name that later metamorphosed to today’s ASIMPIN which was accepted by members of the sociocultural group of practitioners from the maritime sector.
But Patrick who is also the national coordinator for Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers Exporters Coalition in a chat with newsmen recently , in Lagos disclosed that already a compilation of registered members from the Igbo extraction in maritime practice was ongoing to serve as parallel body to ASIMPIN .
The freight agent also called on the President General of ASIMPIN, Eze Damian Obianigwe to conduct elections for new executives to run the affairs of the socio cultural body.
According to him, “It has been fourteen years now that we all came together that we want somebody to lead Igbos in Lagos but fortunately, one of us was selected who is Dr. Obianigwe who is the Managing Director of Fano Shipping and Fano Bonded terminal
“As the case may be, prior to leadership, I started championing it believing that something concrete will be out. After six months, things started falling apart and after one year, we were not hearing anything again
“No meeting, no rendering of account, no training, the only thing we were hearing is that some gave amounts of money. That was the only thing we were hearing. We don’t know how much the chapters got up till now u
“It got to a stage when it was going to three years, I alerted them at that time that our tenure was two years that they should not add nor subtract from it so as not to infringe on the laws
“Fano was not the first President General of Igbo maritime, three persons had held the position before him and when their tenures elapsed, they handed over and appointed a caretaker or interim government to manage and conduct elections for the group.
“I have written President General of Igbo worldwide, I have confronted Fano several times, I have written letters but he failed to honour them
“Igbo elders council which I am a member, visited Fano but he declined only after sometimes, he will say they should give him time, and that they should give him time with his cabinet to do this or that.
“Nothing is working with all Igbos in Lagos and even in the maritime sector, nobody knows what is happening.
“You have finished one tenure, you never called for elections, no account was rendered of your stewardship, no general meeting since then till now, it is going to fourteen years now. What can of leader can you describe this person to be
“He is my good friend but if a good friend is unable to put our house in order, he is no more a good friend until that house is put in order”, Osita Chukwu Patrick stressed.
But in swift reactions to the plea from Patrick, ASIMPIN executives stated that he has no power to call for the removal of the President General, saying he (Osita) is not a financial member of the association.
They also alleged that Osita is the most benefitted member of the association despite being an inactive member of ASIMPIN.
Chairman, ASIMPIN , Board of Trustee, Dr. Peter Obih noted that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives room for freedom of association.
Obih who is a member of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA)
lamented that members of ASIMPIN are yet to meet since the covid-19 pandemic which was part of the delay for elections and meetings adding that reconveyance of the practitioners is what the executives is about debate on henceforth.
Obih noted that Osita Chukwu is an inactive member of ASIMPIN adding that the calls for him to revive Igbo Maritime Forum is immaterial because according to him, members of the sociocultural group had kicked against it moving forward.
On his part, Deputy President General of ASIMPIN,Chief Ozor Chukwura maintained that in every twelve there is a Judias.
To corroborate , Obih ‘s earlier position, the DPG attributed the delay of elections for new executives to the covid-19 pandemic adding that plans are ongoing to consistently organise monthly meetings for members to share ideas and brainstorm on the best way to move ASIMPIN forward.
Chukwura who is also a board member, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) was not a financial member and he destroyed the Apapa Chapter of ASIMPIN.
He said Chukwu has no power to move for the resignation of the executives of ASIMPIN adding that he is an active member of the association.
By Roland Ekama
