DR. KAYODE COLLINS FARINTO
BY GODWIN OBI
Dr. Kayode Farinto, a former Acting National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has expressed grave concerns over the current state of the association under the leadership of President Emenike Nwokeoji.
In an interview, Farinto accused the ANLCA leadership of allowing internal conflicts and overreach by the board to undermine the association’s relevance in the industry.
He criticized what he described as the board’s encroachment on executive roles, which has weakened the president’s authority and eroded the association’s organizational integrity.
“Emenike is not acting like the National President of ANLCA,” Farinto stated.
“The board, which should provide advisory support, appears to have overstepped its mandate and is effectively overshadowing the president.
This is a clear deviation from the norms of a well-structured organizatio”, Farinto remarked.
Farinto expressed particular concern over the dismissal of the Secretary of ANLCA’s Electoral Commission (ASECO) without transparent justification, calling it an example of the board’s excessive interference.
He alleged that the lack of clarity surrounding the action suggested ulterior motives, further aggravating the association’s internal divisions.“Who removed the secretary? Nobody knows,” Farinto remarked.
“This lack of transparency only highlights the chaos and power struggles within ANLCA. We’ve remained calm, but illegal acts will not go unchecked.”
Farinto also criticized what he described as the entrenchment of long-serving board members, whose continued hold on power he believes is stifling progress.
“Certain individuals, some of whom are over 70, refuse to step aside, yet their influence has failed to bring meaningful value to the industry,” he said.Reflecting on his own tenure, Farinto contrasted his focus on advocacy and development with what he characterized as a period of regression under the current administration.
He suggested that the ongoing discord could be traced to last year’s board elections, which he alleged were marred by manipulation and irregularities.
The former acting president also hinted at the possibility of his faction withdrawing from future elections if the current trend of perceived unfairness continues.
“This situation mirrors past flawed board elections, where outcomes seemed predetermined,” he stated, emphasizing the need for credible electoral processes within the association.
Farinto warned that ANLCA’s current trajectory risks reducing the association to irrelevance.
“ANLCA has become synonymous with endorsing illegalities in the industry,” he lamented.
“If this continues, the association will lose its standing and may no longer play a significant role in shaping industry policies and standards.”
In his closing remarks, Farinto urged the leadership to address the association’s internal challenges and refocus its priorities.
Failure to do so, he warned, would leave ANLCA mired in controversy and division, rather than serving as a unified and impactful voice for Customs agents and industry stakeholders
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2024-11-05