Managing Director of C & I Leasing Plc, Emeka Ndu has accused some unidentified persons in the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) of attempts to “smuggle” in a candidate for the position of Lagos Coordinator in the association’s election scheduled to hold tomorrow.
In a correspondence sent to members NISA members on Tuesday, Ndu, who is vying for the Lagos Coordinator post stated: “My attention has been drawn to frantic efforts to smuggle in a candidate for the above position who was not on the list of persons nominated for the position as at the close of nominations and based on list of candidates published by the electoral committee.
“These efforts are based on an illegality and will be resisted very vigorously.
“I have made myself available to serve the association because I believe that significant benefits will accrue to all members if we have an executive based on integrity fairness, equity and service. These principles are compromised when illegality is encouraged.”
But in a swift reaction, another aspirant for the position and Managing Director of Ocean Energy Limited, Capt. Taiwo Franklin Akinpelumi, expressed shock at Ndu’s outburst.
“I received Mr Emeka Ndu email, reacting to my expression of interest to contest for the position of Coordinator (Lagos Zone) with great shock. As a bonafide member of NISA, I have every right and entitlement to aspire to any position in the association, so long it’s done within the confines of the association constitution.
“I had written to the Secretariat concerning my intention to contest for this position over four weeks ago and also followed the email with calls to the ASSECO.
“Let me state categorically here that no executive position is the exclusive preserved (sic) nor birth right of any member, as a matter of fact, it is very healthy for a position to be keenly contested to encourage and guarantee the emergence of the best, qualified and the most competent candidate; candidate who will sever the interest of members diligently and accrue benefits to them.
“I didn’t violate the Association’s Electoral law at any time because ASSECO was amply notified of my intentions before the collation of final list of contestants.
“I will implore our respected, well informed and progressive members to disregard the antics of some people who are skimming and strategizing to smuggle themselves into the exalted position of the Association without working hard for it; not subjecting themselves to rigorous campaigns and proper articulation of their programmes simply because they are planning to be elected unopposed without sweat.
“I will like to inform our dear esteem members that I’m in the contest for the position of Coordinator (Lagos Zone) genuinely to win it; I was never and can never be smuggled in through the back door, as was erroneously inferred by Mr Emeka Ndu.
“I challenge him to substantiate his damming claims by naming, according to him people making frantic efforts to smuggle me in,” Akinpelumi stated in his response.
When contacted, Chairman, Association Electoral Commission of NISA, Captain Niyi Adeyemo declined to comment on the issue.
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