IPMAN ELECTION SAGA: Concerned Marketers Group Demands Shut Down of Secretariat Activities

…Berates BEN JONES Administration For Turning Marketers to Beggars.

By Miracle Enuji

A group consisting of members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN), Delta State Chapter under the aegis of Concerned Marketers Group (CMG), has expressed grave displeasure at the recent interference of the Marketers activities by ill-willed individuals who are bent to silent Petroleum Marketers in Delta State.

The Marketers who expressed their disappointments and resolutions in a Protest Letter dated December 1, 2017 and addressed to the State Governor, the State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the State Security Services, and obtained by journalists, revealed that majority of the Petroleum Merchants were taken aback by the decision of faceless elements to hijack and truncate the electioneering process of the body.

They lamented that even after a committee headed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Peter Mrakpor alongside some State Executives and Security Agencies had concluded their assignment in preparation for the elections scheduled for the 1st of December, 2017, the hopes of the desirous Marketers to effect a change in the averred poisonous leadership style of the incumbent officials were dashed.

The protest letter in part read; “We were therefore seriously disappointed on arrival to Asaba on Thursday 30th November 2017, to the designated venue on the 1st of December, 2017; we were told that the election has been put on hold without any formal notice or information. We were highly vexed with this type of operation”.

Consequently, after the State Commissioner of police, CP Zanna Ibrahim failed to provide reasons for the suspension of the election, the Concerned Marketers Group unequivocally resolved that, the IPMAN Secretariat be temporarily shut down until after the election; Collections of money from Marketers by IPMAN be stopped immediately; a new Election Date be fixed as soon as possible and, that all IPMAN products allocation must be based on program.

It will be recalled that as early as 7:00am on December 1, 2017, an unprecedented crowd of Petroleum Marketers including Concerned Marketers Group of IPMAN and supporters of High Comrade Zeno Enaimon, joyfully trooped to the Cenotaph along High Court Road Asaba, venue for the scheduled election to cast their votes. However, some Marketers from the incumbent camp of Comrade Benjamin Omoefe (Ben jones), allegedly in alliance with some external forces, aborted the peaceful election process.

Speaking to journalists during a protest to the State Police headquarters, Mr. Peter Ena, a prominent member of the Concerned Marketers Group said he had mobilized support for Comrade Zeno whose emergence as the new leader will not only transform the entire association but create a better environment for Marketers to operate.

Another member of the Concerned Marketers Group, Barr. James Efe described the sit tight incumbent leadership of Comrade Benjamin led executive as a setback to the Association. He revealed that Ben jones has always traded with the welfare of the Marketers, noting that for the first time in the history of IPMAN, Marketers have been reduced to beggars. “We have been reduced to a laughing stock, it is very unfortunate”. Barr Efe wept.

The Concerned Marketers Group more so, called on The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to desist from interfering in the affairs of IPMAN, as IPMAN does not owe any responsibility to NUPENG. “IPMAN is a corporate body of businessmen. It is not a branch of NUPENG. We appeal to NUPENG to steer clear of our election, they should not interfere in to the activities of our body. IPMAN is an Association and not a Union”, they cautioned.