FTAN election and lessons for tomorrow

The election for new executives of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has come and gone, a process that could possibly change the fortunes of the sector and how practitioners relates with government on tourism issues.

To many people including observers of the many sides and offside of the federation, it wasn’t an election in the true sense of the word but a mere “selection” forced by circumstances that could have left many active participants distraught and on wrong foot of history.

From the inside circle of power brokers, the very timely and wise steps taken by the chairman of board of trustees of the federation, Barrister Samuel Alabi and the out gone President, Mr. Tommy Akingbogun did checkmate the clean sweep of all advertised positions by the rampaging block of progressives who wants a bullish change in the affairs this private sector august body ruled for years by hoteliers and their cronies.

The effective reading and interpretation of the handwriting of change on the walls of the federation was in itself a great lesson that must drive the new direction to flourish the association back to acceptability and empowerment of industry players. It is not out of place to also sum that the template of united front powered in democratic principles of putting all issues on the table must guide the new leaders.

One other major lesson that need be “forced” down our throat is the need to truly revisit the constitution of the federation which has gone through a series of fanciful and autocratic insertions thereby red carding the true essence of the founding dreams of the body. Indeed, since the federation has deemed it fit to revisit this expectation, it therefore loud the need to bring back a sense of negotiations that midwife the federation.

Specifically, in this voyage of ideas, it is imperative to state and mark out that FTAN is an association of tourism-related associations and not tourism or culture companies or individuals. The deboning and de-marketing of this provision largely contributed to the noticeable rebellion by some sub-sector associations in the past.

Another time bomb that is yet to be addressed is the growing demand by some very important sections of the tourism economy which needs to be assisted to grow and find their footings and to which many industry leaders appeared to be impatient at their existence as factories of mushrooming nonentities.

Yes, man is a known political animal and in FTAN of tomorrow, the new leaders must find a way and means of evangelising to others to see the need to work together and not mushroom for self and power. A federation with twenty-two registered sub-sectors bodies and yet cannot pick its bills and speak truth to authority is in itself a useless monkey prancing around for mere glory.

It is also an important lesson and observation that the federating power structure grounded on the six geopolitical zones be revisited and be made the true test case for future elections into all critical areas of the association’s leadership position, particularly the Presidency since these various blocks supposedly drive tourism and culture businesses at the grass root.

Even though one admits that an association endorses an aspirant to the national elective office, such a candidate must be seen to have served effectively and transparently at the local chapter and therefore well equipped with experience and passion to serve at the centre of the federation.

Sadly, the game of shame today reflects the dangerous bent where power mongers oxygenate their ambition to become “executive” at the centre through the zonal structures without any record of achievement, a step which must be discouraged. It is helpless to imagine that a south-west zone for instance where a majority of active stakeholders and industry businesses abound do not feel the impact of FTAN and its zonal leadership.

The expected and right thing(s) to do is to drive zonal structures that could galvanise the sector at their levels of administration to become a face of tourism of development and progress and if need be, challenge the states and local government authorities to embrace the tourism economy to partner employment and encourage rural growth.

It is a mission achievable and to which the template to promote and market domestic tourism and culture product(s) finds a tripod. FTAN zonal structures and not the centre are the engine rooms of the new development and let those so “selected” wake up and prove to Nigerians that their national call to duty is a challenge to help rewrite the history of tourism in Nigeria.

We must warn and advise that the restructuring of FTAN will never be complete without booting out the Board of Trustees (BOT). FTAN cannot have new wine in an old wineskin; therefore we must summon enough courage to change our Board of Trustees.

Next week: The unveiling of the new FTAN executive, their individual strength and weaknesses.