IPMAN  leadership differs on nationwide strike

Chinazor Megbolu

There was a discodant tunes among the officials of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) over the  claim of  nationwide strike.

The association’s General Secretary, Mr. Yakubu Suleiman, had on Sunday, asked its members to shut down operations over alleged harassment by the police.

But the  National President, IPMAN, Mr. Sanusi Fari, on Monday,  has disagreed,  asking  the public to dismiss any information regarding the planned strike.

He alleged that some police officers invaded the association’s national secretariat last Friday over leadership issues amongst members.

The IPMAN leader, however, asked petroleum dealers and the public to ignore Suleiman’s statement and also advised the public not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products.

The IPMAN president condemned attempts by some groups within the association to “blackmail” the government by calling out marketers for a nationwide protest.

Fari noted that the association was working harmoniously with sister organisations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers and the National Association of Road Transport Owners.
He said IPMAN was working with the petroleum tanker drivers unit of NUPENG to ensure an adequate supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“We wish to inform the general public that our members have no plans to shut down any petrol station in the country as there is no reason to take such action,” he said.

“Our members are directed to disregard a publication by some persons whose stock in trade is to sabotage the efforts of the Federal Government and the PPMC to provide uninterrupted supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“We ask the general public to ignore any information emanating from any unscrupulous individuals attempting to hijack the association for their selfish and profiteering adventure.

“Those individuals lack the capacity to call off our services as they are illegally parading themselves as officers of the association in total disregard and disobedience of a Supreme Court judgment of Dec. 14, 2018.

“We enjoin the public to go about their normal activities as we continue to support the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC to ensure availability of petroleum products across the country,’’ Fari said.

He further advised any member not satisfied with the supreme court’s order to seek redress in court and not resort to an empty threat that might make the motoring public engage in panic buying of petroleum products.