The African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has asked the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) accredited associations to boycott the board elections saying that have outlived their relevance.
The president of the group, Otunba Frank Oguunojemite in response to media reports by a group advising the five associations to withdraw from participating in the CRFFN board election because the Minister allowed individual candidates’ participation.
He made the disclosure in a media chat with our correspondent in Lagos on Wednesday.
He stated that allowing individual candidates is part of the efforts of the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to sanitise the Maritime industry.
He therefore said that the associations are at liberty to withdraw from participating in the elections.
A leader of one of the associations has advised that the five accredited associations boycott the CRFFN board election for individual candidates.
Speaking further, Ogunojemite cautioned against criminal and inciting comments that could lead to lawlessness.
His words, “Everyone is entitled to freedom of speech but we must be careful in using inciting words because they might cause lawlessness in the country or anywhere
“It is a criminal allegation against the minister of transportation or the ministry by saying the election is being rigged which he has to provide proof
“I must confess to you that individual candidacy is the best in order to uphold the effort that the Honourable minister has been making
“They have the right, nobody is forcing anyone, it is their choice. It is better if they withdraw because enough of the Methuselah calibre of people disrupting the peace of the industry.
“They have the liberty to withdraw. Nobody is greater than 5he government and nobody can intimidate the honourable minister at this time. It is their choice to withdraw.”