Farinto joins ANLCA BoT race as support group purchases N1.5m nomination form

A support group of the immediate past acting President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) Dr. Kayode Farinto has purchased a N1.5million nomination form on his behalf to contest for a seat on the Board of Trustees (BoT) in the upcoming election.

The group, known as Kayfar group bought and presented the form to Farinto in his office in Lagos on Tuesday.

With the purchase of the form, Farinto will be joining the race with other top ANLCA members who have also purchased the nomination form and indicated interest to vie for a seat on the BoT.

It was gathered that no fewer than 16 aspirants including the former BoT Chairman, Alh. Taiwo Mustapha, Ernest Elochukwu, Abdulazeez Babatunde, Dayo Azeez, Ozor Chuwkura and Dennis Ukwu are among top ANLCA members that have purchased the nomination form and are vying for a seat on the nine- member board.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Comrade Adeniyi Adelakun said the group purchased the form for Farinto because of his vast experience in the maritime industry, which he said is needed to bring the much- needed positive changes in ANLCA.

Adelakun also highlighted Farinto”s leadership qualities, availability and willingness to serve whenever members call on him for assistant.

He said, ” Farinto is known as a man of the people in the maritime industry because he’s always ready to serve everybody. If he is elected member of the board, there will be positive changes in ANLCA.

“He never dissapoints. We believe in him and his capacity as a leader in the maritime industry. He is a field man that is always ready to assist anybody. He is always available.

“The current ANLCA is in disarray now. We have a lot of problems and nobody is coming to help us. As I’m talking to you now, for the past two weeks we have not been able to capture our job.”

In his acceptance speech, Farinto, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Wealthy Honey Investment Limited said despite his initial decision to step aside from ANLCA polittics, he was moved by the group’s gesture and confidence in him.

He expressed appreciation to the group for their unwavering support, which he said has been instrumental in his success, including his emergence as member of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria ( CRFFN).

Farinto said Kayfar group, a registered advocacy group has been resolving cargo clearance issues and addressing challenges faced by members in the industry.

He said, “This group believes in me. If you give them N1million for any vote they won’t give it to any other person.

“One thing about ANLCA is that I have seen it all and I have contributed my quota to the association. A leader that does not leave when the ovation is loud may be pushed aside and that was why I said let me go and rest and allow new comers to prove their worth but now that my group has gone to buy a form worth N1.5 million even without my consent saying they still want me to add my level of experience to make sure ANLCA grows, who I’m I to say no.

“Whatever I have become today is not by myself alone but through their support. So I cannot just throw them away like that. I won’t say because I have reached the peak now I will look the other way when our members are suffering in the field.

“So I will give it a thought hoping that the election will be credible enough, free and fair and the fact that the ASECO which is the umpire will do a very good job. I believe my inclusion in the election will give it credibility.

“When I lost the ANLCA presidential election, I congratulated the man that won because that’s how life is suppose to be. I will give it a thought but I believe whatever I’m thinking must be a yes because these are the people that stood by me.”

Farinto said if elected, he would work with other board members to define the role of the BoT in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), avoid conflicts with NECOM and bring positive changes to ANLCA.

“We don’t want a board that will have conflict with NECOM. I was once a NECOM head and I know the kind of crisis we had with our board. This is not the kind of board I want to be a member. So I will let whoever is coming on board know that NECOM in line with our Constitution is to see to the day to day activities of the association. When it comes to court issues, property of the association, it is the responsibility of the board.

“So these are the things we need to segment and separate. May be my inclusion in the board now, will be able to make NECOM have peace. The problem in ANLCA has been the issue with the board- Board wanting to play the role of the NECOM but I will make sure to let whoever is coming on board that we are not elected as NECOM but board and board is to advise the NECOM when necessary, ” he said.

Speaking on perceived factionalism within ANLCA, Farinto emphasized that their professional relationship binds them together.

“We are still professional colleagues and I don’t see anybody as my enemy. When I insisted I was not going to contest, somebody ask me ‘Are you not going to practice this profession again’? And that was a question I was unable to answer.

“The fact that someone is in camp A today does not mean he cannot be in my camp tomorrow. You will be surprise that this election will bring some people to say Kayode we didn’t vote for you the last time but we want to vote for you now, ” he said.

Farinto promised to work to restore ANLCA’s lost glory and support the NECOM for a united direction if elected on the BoT.

He urged his supporters to remain hopeful and join hands in building the association, acknowledging that ANLCA has been instrumental in his industry recognition.

Photo caption:

Members of the Kayfar group presenting the BoT nomination form to Kayode Farinto (middle) in his office in Lagos on Tuesday.