IPMAN May Shut Down Fuel Stations in C'River, Akwa Ibom

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Calabar Depot in Cross River State on Thursday threatened to shut down petrol stations of its members in the state and Akwa Ibom State due to what they hinged on incessant harassment of its leadership by the police.

The threat to shut down the filling stations followed agreement allegedly reached after series of meetings with some stakeholders over fears that there were fresh moves by the police authorities from Abuja to arrest the IPMAN chairman and close down their office in Calabar over alleged leadership crisis.

The stakeholders were bewildered that even after the national leadership of IPMAN and the state government have resolved all the grey areas, the special monitoring unit from the Inspector-General of Police (IG) office was still haunting the Robert Obi-led executive of IPMAN for both states on trumped-up charges.

They expressed fear that a crack team of police detectives allegedly from IG office arrived in the state police command last Monday to inform them of their mission to arrest Obi.

This development has created panic among the members just as they are considering closing down all fuel stations in protest against the intimidation from IG monitoring team.

Last Wednesday afternoon, some police detectives were reported to have been seen at the depot parading around the IPMAN secretariat ostensibly to arrest the chairman and take him to Abuja.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Calabar on the development, the spokesman for the Stakeholders Forum, Joseph Akan, said they were tired of the hide and sick-game being played by the police detectives from Abuja, lamenting that they have taken delight in terrorising their leaders.

According to Akan, "Last week, some police officers came from Abuja claiming that they are from the Police IG's office,  and this week, another set came still claiming they are from the same office for the same IPMAN.

"Please we are pleading with these officers to leave Calabar petrol dealers alone instead of igniting more problems. The state government had intervened in the matter and had resolved whatever issues that were still lingering. But it seems to me now that the police from Abuja  don't want us to enjoy peace. They are part IPMAN.

"We have suffered a lot in their hands even when the matter is in court. Our members are waiting for the last minute directive from their leaders to close shops until they leave Calabar."

Decrying the alleged harassments of IPMAN leadership, the immediate past Senior Special Adviser to Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, on Public Communication, Mr. Tony Undeandeye, said it is quite unfortunate that at the time peace has returned to the association following the state government intervention, the police authorities from Abuja are igniting more fire by alleging that there is a petition against the chairman.

Undeandeye, who was the Chairman of Special Committee set up by the state government to look into the crisis in IPMAN, expressed surprise as to why the police is so much interested in IPMAN Calabar depot.

He said there were no problems in the association, and that the police should not create one that could cause breach of public peace.

Undeandeye appealed to the members of IPMAN not to shut down their filling stations as doing so would affect the economy of the state negatively.

He stated that the government was ready to ensure that the existing peace in the association prevailed.