By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Calabar Unit of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has cautioned the governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu to be weary of the murky waters of the petroleum marketers politics in the state.
The union advised the state government not to allow the new
administration be dragged into the mud.
Chairman of the Calabar Unit of IPMAN, Comrade Robert Obi, gave the charge on Friday while reacting to the purported inauguration of one Mr. Peter Okim Abang, as new chairman.
Obi said, “Our dear governor should not allow himself to associate with illegalities or be a party to something that could disintegrate our association.
“Our attention has been drawn to the purported inauguration of one Mr. Peter Okim Abang, chairman, Task Force on Petroleum, as the “new” chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Calabar unit.
“The inauguration of Abang, who also served as one of the appointees of former Governor Ben Ayade, on petroleum matters, held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, with the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, of Cross River State, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh in attendance.
Obi’s charge to state government followed news outbreak that that the purported inauguration of the the purported new IPMAN chairman with the SSG’s attendance was perhaps to give the event a semblance of official colouration, gave birth to a huge surprise to marketers in the Calabar unit of IPMAN.”
A statement issued on Friday in Calabar by Obi, who is laying claims to the chairmanship position, stressed that the association feels worried at the moves by some power-mongers who attempted to hijack IPMAN leadership, even when they know that their actions are unacceptable.
Also the statement, sighted by our reporters in Calabar yesterday, emphasized that Mr Obi became IPMAN Calabar unit chairman following an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, due to the commotion that rocked the association sometimes ago.
The statement averred that the inauguration of Abang as new chairman unfortunately came at a time when Obi and his former archfoe, Elder Edet Umana are at the verge of concluding a reconciliatory process for peace to return.
The statement maintained that the leadership of IPMAN once sent a letter to the state governent shortly after the new administration was sworn-in, exhibiting all judgements covering the crisis.
It stated, “We expected government to critically examine such documents (judgements) as annexures in which Comrade Robert Obi remains the authentic chairman of IPMAN.
“This is in line with the Federal High Court ruling in suit No. FHC/CA/FHR/95/2019, which declared Obi so and has been subsisting with no reversal by any appellate court.
“So, we expected the government to have been very cautious, having read the warning notice. But that was not to be, as the government have taken side with a new faction inaugurated yesterday, the 12th day of July, 2023, with the SSG in attendance.
“Let us re-state that it is not a faction that made comrade Robert Obi the Calabar unit chairman, rather it is a court of competent jurisdiction that so declared him.
“It is therefore, disheartening that marketeers, who have enjoyed relative peace in the unit depot since the peace process commenced, woke up to hear that one Peter Abang, allegedly ‘recruited’ by self-acclaimed factional President to pilot the affairs of our association.”
