Ikechi Uko (Founder, AKWAABA) |
Recently, five members of NATOP we hear sent out a petition alleging irregularities in the affairs of National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP). And hell
broke loose.
We put a call to Ikechi Uko who most
Nigerians in the tourism industry know as a pillar of sort for the industry, he
had quite a volume to say.
According to him, “It is a case of putting
out a petition and maligning of tourism personalities. My attention have
been drawn to a widely Circulating petition signed by 5 members of NATOP
alleging irregularities in the affairs of NATOP. I have been called by a
top Government official someone I respect to withhold any further
escalation of the issue until it is resolved. He has asked for calmness so I
will be restrained in my response.”
Ikechi Uko who said that he is forced to
respond “because the petition was copied to all my Clients in Nigeria and
abroad so it looks like a hatchet Job to get Ikechi at all cost after the
several demarketing efforts of Akwaaba has failed. It is not only a
Nigerian issue. It is a case of ‘try to embarrass him with his international
friends’ which seems to be the objective. A childish criminal recording was
attached for full dramatic effect. I know of four meetings held last year in
Abuja on how to stop Akwaaba in other to launch a new travel Expo in Nigeria.
“An attempt was made to rubbish the
Nigerian media by people who did not attend the event covered by over 40
journalists from all over the country. I am also alarmed that
respected leaders of the industry were dragged in and rubbished in the
petition. The likes of Kabiru Malan a two term President of NANTA and
former Vice President of NATOP and Currently the President of ATPN were rubbished
as mere friends of Ikechi because he was inducted into the BOT of NATOP. Iyom
Josephine Anenih a leading Founding Member of the Federation of Tourism
Associations in Nigeria FTAN was also tarred with the same brush. Gabe Onah the
Chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission who has been former Commissioner of
Tourism in his state and Superintends over the biggest Tourism event in Nigeria
is further tarnished because they accepted to serve as BOT of NATOP an
association that they have all contributed to build.
“Mrs. Garbati is a past President of NATOP a former Deputy President of FTAN, a strong Supporter of NATOP and has kept the association from collapsing. She event brought in some of the agitators now tarnishing her name and personality. I noticed in the petition every other sentence had a mention of Ikechi Uko and Akwaaba. I didn't run for any Office before or after. I do not need to defend myself and my contributions to tourism in Nigeria. I will use the trending meme in Nigeria quoting Charles Okocha " We global now, I have paid my dues and I deserve some accolades”
Ikechi Uko went further to say that, “the
other worrying issue for me is the name of Elder Jemi Alade on the petition.
I consider Mr. Alade a legend. He is a pioneer Tour Operator. We received
the Pioneer award from FTAN together so I respect him. He also
participated in all high level meetings of NATOP since 2016 and was present all
through the events leading to Jos. What happened in Jos that has necessitated
this bile and letter dripping with meanness? At the Jos AGM 60 members arrived
from Different parts of Nigeria. The Plateau State Government hosted members to
a dinner party on Sunday. Monday was the Pre event Tour of Plateau and 3 buses
were used including 2 NTDC buses. Tour Operators along with the
Commissioner of Tourism and Special Adviser of Tourism Plateau State along with
Directors of the state took the Operators round the state and ended the
day with a reception at Rayfield Resort. The next day was the AGM proper.
It was fully hosted by Plateau State attended by the Deputy Governor and state
Executive council and transmitted on State and National media. The President of
HATMAN Alhaji Badaki was present along with President of Zoo Keepers
association Mr. Andy Ehanire all Members of FTAN Board to observe things. After
the conference Members went into the Meeting. After reading of minutes
and taking Nominations for BOT. The House approved the nominated Members without
Objections. The Audited accounts were presented and this created arguments
as some members demanded the original copies signed by the appointed
Auditors. The Financial Secretary /Treasurer produced the documents and it was
adopted by the full house. The last agenda for the day was elections of
New Executives. However, because of the prevailing rumour that the
President has procured all the new Members to vote for Ime Udo the General Secretary
it was agreed that all new Members who have spent less than 2 years should
leave the hall. This was resisted by the
new Members especially by the Abuja members who suspected that it
was a ploy by the Lagos people to rig their candidate out of the Election. They
were persuaded by The President of FTAN Alhaji Rabo Saleh to obey the
rules. The Election took place after the President stepped down and handed
over to the BOT and Observers to Conduct the Election. Out of the over 50
members present, only 10 were eligible to Vote or be Voted for going by
the 2 year rule. 3 candidates indicated interest in the Presidency Mr.
Abiola Lawal, Ime Udo and Hajia Bilkisu Abdul. Hajia Bilkisu Abdul got the most
eligible votes. Abiola Lawal and Ime Udo went into the Election for Vice
President and Ime Udo won all the eligible votes. This election results were
accepted by candidates and Mr. Abiola Lawal.
“Now, the Coup attempt. Sometimes last year some
members set up a secret WhatsApp group to unseat the Executives and in
their words retire all other members and install themselves. They shared the
executive positions amongst themselves and set to work in damaging the names of
any person perceived to be strong enough to stop them. They set up a story that
the President wants to install the General Secretary as the New President
because they come from the same state forgetting that NATOP has an Unofficial
Rotation principle. This spawned the whole bad blood that emerged.
“In February they arrived at a general meeting with Non-members and
declared the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Executive. They
were overruled and the Coup failed. They next spread another story about
Insecurity in Jos and that they will not go to Jos because of Herdsmen attack.
They contradicted themselves by saying that they will go to Jos for the
conference then come to Lagos for the Elections. The executives met and decided
to go ahead and accept the offer by the Government of Plateau State to fully
Host the AGM. This offer from Plateau State is the second time in the
History of NATOP a state Government is agreeing to host NATOP. The first
time was by Madam Onari Duke the first lady of Cross River State under the Presidency
of Hajia Fatima Garbati. Every decision of The Executives was approved by Mr.
Jemi Alade and Abiodun Sanni who were members of the past Executive council. Plateau
State kept their Words and fully hosted the event which includes 15 Tourism
journalists. The attendance of Lagos members to Jos is similar to the Elective
AGM held in Calabar in 2016.
“At the Calabar AGM Members came from everywhere
including Benin Republic but only 12 people attended from Lagos. It is the
habit of most Lagos operators to attend to only events held in Lagos. This is
not only in NATOP I have also observed that other National Tourism Associations
experience more attendance by members outside Lagos whenever the events are
held outside Lagos. Jos is in Nigeria and the state Government has offered to
help. The 2017 AGM was held in Lagos and was attended by the Minister of
Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed along with the top Government Officials. So having
held an AGM in Lagos NATOP was happy to move the event to another part of the
Country because a conspiracy has been spawned and new people drafted and some
subsequently deleted when they disagreed with the methods employed. Surprisingly
the agitators refused to turn up in Jos except 2. The AGM in Jos was well
publicized with 35 stories published on the event by Different media houses. A
member who refused to attend the event cannot be seen complaining after the
event when they should all have attended and pushed their agenda.
Ikechi Uko also touched on the issue of Tourism
Agitators. “Jemi Alade first used that term in the 1990s when we were all
hanging out at his Office. Tourism Agitators are people who have a lot of
time so they do nothing in tourism but have enough time to fight within
Tourism Associations claiming they can do better. These agitators have killed
many vibrant Tourism associations. They always target an association when it
seems to be doing well. They never invest in building any association or
resurrecting moribund ones as some people are doing but will always target any
popular association. They move from one association to another trying to take
over. Akwaaba Travel market is the biggest Professional Travel event in
West Africa. In the past year we organized 10 events in 3 countries.
And all were Successful. We have moved over 1000 people round our events
taking care of flights, Visas, Accomodation and Land Transportation. So when
the President of NATOP calls upon us at the last meeting to help salvage a
situation we have always delivered. After being dragged in last year 8
days before the event to arrange the AGM in Lagos Mr. Abiodun Sanni came over
to commend us.
"So when people fail to do their jobs and Akwaaba is contracted
to help out we should be commended for always coming in to help. I am surprised
that Serial floppers who have failed in organising an event are criticizing
Akwaaba African Travel market for coming in to help. We are still being
owed for last year's event though part of it was defrayed as dues.”
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