By Our Correspondent
The South West Zonal chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Monday, has distanced itself from the purported nationwide strike directed by leadership of the association over an alleged invasion of its national Secretariat by security operatives late last week.
Consequently, IPMAN South West zone has directed its members to ensure hitch free business activities at all the depots in the region, while all petroleum filling stations across the zone are to also ensure uninterrupted dispensing of the products to prospective customers so as to guarantee a hitch free of supply and distribution of Petroleum products across every nooks and crannies of the region.
The IPMAN chairman in the zone, Alhaji Dele Tajudeen Lamidi, who spoke with journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital said thus position of his association at boycotting the directive of its national leadership is premised on the ground of serious reasoning which could resulted in a devastating effects on the economy of the country as a whole.
Lamidi explained that IPMAN leadership in the South West zone is not unaware of the economic hardship which Nigerians, particularly residents of the zone are currently going through and as such, would not want to further compound the situation by aligning with the directive.
IPMAN Zonal chairman, who was apparently reacting to a statement credited to IPMAN's National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yakubu Suleiman in a press interview, expressly declared that the South West zone would not be a party to inflicting fresh hardship on the people of the zone by shutting down the petroleum distribution and dispensing channels.
IPMAN's national image maker, Suleiman had in the interview, stated that members and officials at the states, zonal and depot levels "have met and resolved to shutting down fuel filling stations" all over the country" following what he described as the police's illegality on the association's matter.
But in his reaction to Suleiman's justification for the nationwide strike, Lamidi urged IPMAN national leadership to employ better alternatives and means of dialogue with the Federal Government, "rather than exposing our members to public embarrassment".
"All depots and petrol stations are directed to go about their normal business and ensure free flow and a hitch free of supply and distribution of Petroleum products across every nooks and crannies of Southwest".
"While we support Federal government and NNPC/ PPMC to achieve their objectives of products supplies, we will continue do our our businesses legitimately without fear or favour. We are passionate about Nigeria people's plight and we will not add to the suffering of the people".
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