Zone boss, Chukwura, eyes ANLCA Presidency
Says: ‘There is nothing that will restrain or stop me from contesting
In an exclusive chat with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, Chukwura said that it should not be perceived as overambitious of him to aspire to be the ANLCA National President, asserting that he is qualified and entitled to occupy the position.
The ANLCA Western Zonal Coordinator said that, with the support of the right people and at the right time, nothing will restrain him from vying for the position of ANLCA National President.
He said: “I have been the Chairman of a very viable port like Tin-Can, I have also worked in so many committees and I am presently the zonal coordinator of the highest zone in ANLCA, and, if my people feel my contributions to the association is enough to make me the President, is there anything wrong for me to eye the Presidency? If that is the next step, I would do it with all diligence. People were there before the present President, and, when he goes, people will come in there. I am very sure that when the time comes, and, I make consultations and my people say go … when I say my people, I mean every ethnic group – Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa – I am with them, I will go! There is nothing that will restrain or stop me from contesting for any position; if God permits to do so, I will do it! Even beyond association politics, if I could be the Governor of my state or the President of Nigeria, is it forbidden?”
On the controversy surrounding the extension or otherwise of the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, Chukwura said that the Customs reforms introduced by the administration of the Customs chief has redefined the freight forwarding industry, and is, therefore, deserving of an elongation of his tenure in office at the helm of the Service.
He said: “I am not one of the people that do eye service; it is a political position and I don’t know any particular section of the Customs (and Excise Management Act) or the Nigerian Constitution that says that, after four years, he is supposed to bow out. But I am aware that, after four years, he could go for another four years, making it eight years! So, I don’t know where all this noise is coming from. I did not put Dikko there, but I am fully in support of the whole reforms he has made in the industry. Without being biased, let anybody come to a public debate to challenge Prince Ozo Chukwura that Dikko has not thrown a lot of reforms in the system.”
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