IPMAN Inaugurates North-West Caretaker Committee

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The crisis that is rocking the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is seems to be fading out as the organization at the weekend inaugurated members of care –taker committee that will stair the affairs of the association for the next three months in the north-west zone.

Although the environment prior to the announcement of the committee members was tense as some members who were opposed to the list started shouting on top of their voices in Hausa language, “Ba mu so, kariya ne, baza mu yada ba, ( we don’t want them, it is a lie, we will not agree). Sequel to the tense situation which necessitated the timely intervention of armed soldiers and police men on duty at the venue of the event, along Nnamdi Azikiwe bypass, the situation was later brought under control but the inauguration was hurriedly carried out thereafter.

A 10-man committee was thereafter inaugurated by the representative of the National President Chidi Nnubia. Nnubia who is the Special Adviser, Inter Depots Affairs represented the IPMAN National President, Chief Obasi Lawson appealed to members to join hands with the new caretaker committee members to further uplift the association. When asked why the rowdiness, he said, “The event was rowdy because it is purely marketer’s affairs, wherever you have so many people, you should expect a rowdy session like this. We have just inaugurated care-taker executives of the North West zone of IPMAN, and that is why so many of their followers came to congratulate them.

The National President earlier in his speech as read by his representative enjoin all the caretaker committee to “remain loyal, steadfast and committed towards total liberation of the members from a few selfish individuals who have been dividing and ruling us, I want you to use this opportunity to once more bring members together to be able to get what the association deserves.”

Speaking also, the newly inaugurated Public Relations Officer of the IPMAN, Ayo Ogunlana told newsmen, “Those whose tenures have expired were supposed to leave office, we have conducted election, but they refused to leave office. We thank God, the national President; Chief Obasi Lawson has come on board. So the inauguration is a good thing that has happens to IPMAN. The committee will serve the people, and we promise that very soon there will be no fuel scarcity in the zone.”

The leader of the opposing camp, Abdulfatai Ahmed shortly after told newsmen in an interview at the reception venue that “We want peace in this association and Nigeria as a whole; we are ready to support this committee because the national body has intervened and we have settled amicably, we are all members of this association”.