Story by Dili Utomi.
There is palpable anger in the ranks of the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners In Nigeria (ASSIMPIN) as a section of the group known as the Igbo Maritime Elders Forum are kicking against the President-General of the body, His Royal Majesty, Damian Obianigwe.
A letter which was signed by some leaders of the Forum, chairman, Chief Boniface Okoye (Bontex) and secretary, Chief Osita Chukwu detailed some of their grievances which were mainly directed at the Deputy President-General of ASSIMPIN, Prince Ozo Chukwura. The kernel of the matter is the fact that the executive members have been in their positions for almost 14 years without any kind of election either to be reaffirmed or get rejected.
The letter reads in part” We chose Prince Ozo Chukwura about fourteen years ago as a well grounded maritime professional to help guide the president general in sheepherding this Association to greatness, but have all noted with displeasure, the seemingly unshakable bad support that he has accorded the president general, His Royal Majesty, Ambassador Damian Obianigwe who has not shown good leadership as he has not added much value to the Association”.
“It is also on record that Chief Obianigwe was voted to serve a two year tenure, but has now spent almost fourteen years at the position. These have happened with the unflinching support of Prince Ozo Chukwura to the president general and all entreaties for him, to guide the president general and grant some good advice to him have not been heeded. We also want to state that the flimsy and illegitimate excuse of lack of biometrics capture by members for the conduct of an election is not tenable as it is unconstitutional”.
We spoke with some members of the lgbo Maritime Elders Forum who noted that Prince Ozo Chukwura who as a seasoned maritime professional was elected as a deputy to guide Obianigwe, a man who was not really grounded in the sector, but that he has not performed his responsibility as directed.
The letter concluded by asking Prince Chukwura that “We want you by this press release to therefore make the right move towards having a free and fair election take place and an efficient executive members take over the mantle of leadership”.
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