The line of those eyeing the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) top position is growing by the day.
The latest chieftain of the association to indicate interest in the position of ANLCA National President is the immediate past chairman of ANLCA Tin-Can chapter, Kayode Farinto.
It would be recalled that the Coordinator ANLCA Western Zone, Prince Ozor Chukwura, during an exclusive chat with SHIPS & PORTS recently, had indicated similar interest in the ANLCA topmost position stating that with the support of the right people and at the right time nothing will restrain him from contesting for the position of ANLCA National President. Farinto, who is involved in a subsisting court case with ANLCA’s electoral body – the Association Electoral Commission (ASECO) over his disqualification from re-contesting for the chairmanship position in the ANLCA Tin-Can chapter election held on 1st July 2013, told SHIPS & PORTS DAILY on Tuesday that even if given the opportunity to return as chairman of the chapter he will decline it, as his interest now lies in the ANLCA presidency.
“Even if am given that chance to go back as the chairman, I can’t go back.
What I should be thinking now is presidency (ANLCA presidency). The prerequisite is that you must be a licensed customs agent which I am. What is that they have they don’t have. That is the truth, am not afraid of anybody about that. We will all go for the post and if elected, fine! If not elected I congratulate whoever wins. But it will not be like the one in chapter where they say you are not qualified and you are not given clearance, it looks to odd and that is why it’s annoying.
It’s annoying with somebody’s credibility” he said.
Farinto, who was, over the weekend, conferred a honorary doctorate degree by the Pacific Western University (PWU), USA, said that he will not relent in his fight to ensure that the interests of agents are protected.
He said: “The only thing I hate is injustice. I will always be fighting for the interest of agents even though it is a thankless job. These people don’t know what you are doing. At your back they still castigate you. I know how many knocks, embarrassments and intimidation I have received either from customs or my association. But I will not stop doing it because, as a comrade, it is part of me and I can’t stop it” He said that he is going to prove that he deserves his doctorate award by taking his activism of ensuring the protection of agents’ rights beyond association level.
“I want to assure you that we are going to add more value to the lives of our members. We will go as far as bypassing associations. We will have contact with the presidency where we think that things have not been done right we will make it known to the authority and they will listen to our voice” Farinto said.
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