The executive committee members with the ASIMPEC members.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners In Nigeria (ASIMPIN), Western Zone has organised elections into different positions for the various chapters under the zone. The elections took place at the Neni hall of the Rockview Hotel, GRA, Apapa on Thursday.
The occasion had a lot of the bigwigs in the Maritime sector in attendance. Eze Damian Obianigwe, the owner of Fano bonded terminal and the President-General of ASIMPIN was there, so was Dr. Eugene Nweke, the secretary of the board of trustees. Also in attendance was Prince Okey Egbuchulam, the association’s general secretary, Chijioke Daniels-Nkwazema is the chairman of the association’s electoral committee known as ASIMPEC with other members such as Dr. Arthur Igwilo and Chief Ben Davies Chukwunenye. Others include Comrade Ben Uche Ndee emeritus President-General & BOT member, Dr Frank Ukor BOT member & emeritus PG High Chief Isdore O. Agoha who were there to make sure that the election went on smoothly.
A sample of the election results for the chairmanship position to the Seme chapter saw Emeka Nweke garnering 108 votes as against the 6 votes garnered by Benjamin Okike. The vice chairmanship election for the chapter had Obiora Obiejesi winning with 101 votes as against the 16 votes garnered by Meju Afamefuna.
The election into the chairmanship position for the Tincan chapter of the association saw Isaac Ndukwe wininng with 207 votes with his fellow contestant Godson Ejiogu getting 10 votes. For the post of secretary, Chidi Egemba got 183 votes while Augustine Egbede had 31 votes.
The comprehensive results for various positions in the various chapters are:-
A. APAPA CHAPTER.
1. Anthony Onuora, Chairman.
2. Benignus Ibebuogu, Vice Chairman.
3. Chibueze Peter Iwobi, Welfare
4. Humphrey Okwuosa, Fin.Sec.
B. TINCAN CHAPTER
1. Isaac Ndukwe, Chairman.
2. Chukwuma Eze, Vice Chairman
3. Chidi F. Egemba, Secretary
4. Eze Louis, Treasurer
5. Chigozie J.Adindu, Asst Secretary
6. Nkwazema Tony, PRO
7. Marcel Anosike, Welfare
8. Okey A.Nnorom, Chief Provost
C. SEME CHAPTER.
1. Emeka Nweke, Chairman
2. Callistus O.Obiejesi, ViceChairman
3. Udechukwu Okoye, PRO
D. PTML CHAPTER
1. Sunny Ugorji, Chairman
2. Henry I.Ogbonna, Vice Chairman
3. Victor Oraegbunam, Secretary
4. Asa Nwakaeze, Treasurer
5. Emma Ohambele, PRO.
6. Kenneth Nwosu, Asst.Sec.
Eze Obianigwe in red cap conversing with Dr. Eugene Nweke to his right and Comrade Ben Uche Ndee to his left.
Several positions were though yet to be contested for and this necessitated the constitution of a tribunal to look into all the complaints from all quaters before by-elections will take place for those positions. Eze Obianigwe deftly steered the occasion that was threatening to become rowdy as some members were already disenchanted before going to the venue of the election.
Dr. Eugene Nweke spoke to us after the elections and said that the need to constantly engage members in order to enlighten them about the various laws that guide their operations in the sector made them to come together and establish this association. He also added that latent potentials inherent in having people from that section of the country who engage in commerce to have a common unit was a great motivation in forming the association. He asks that the government should further streamline it’s processes to allow for better operational standards and the growth of businesses.
On his part, Mr. Chijioke Daniels-Nkwazema said that since a lot of the operators in the Maritime sector are from Igboland, it became apparent that a body such as ASIMPIN should be formed to help in educating and galvanising the people to solve whatever problems that may emanate from the profession in other to acheive better economic development.
Prince Okey Egbuchulam on his part buttressed the need for practitioners to obey the extant laws guiding operations in the sector and also that it is vitally imperative for government to constantly engage stakeholders who help in generating the needed revenue for them.
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