Imo: Petrol Marketers In Showdown With Gov Uzodinma…Commercial Drivers Hike Fares

Commuters in Owerri, Imo State, have been subjected to hardship as they woke up to an industrial action by independent petroleum marketers in the state on Wednesday.

The industrial action reportedly stemmed from Governor Hope Uzodinma’s alleged refusal to obey a court order to compensate their member whose filling station in Orlu was demolished under the administration of former governor Rochas Okorocha.

The governor was also accused of failing to honour an agreement reached between the petroleum marketers and the state’s internal revenue agency.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the petroleum marketers had agreed N100, 000 as the money payable to the state government by its members operating in the Owerri city center as their annual levy.

Those operating on the outskirts of the city center were to pay N50,000 annually, according to the alleged agreement.

The industrial action resulted in sudden increase of transportation fares in Owerri and other areas in the state.

When our correspondent went round the state capital, it was observed that most of the fuel stations were closed.

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At Empire Emrgy fuel station which was open along Aba Owerri road, there was a huge crowd of motorists and other people trying to buy petrol.

Consequently, black market dealers had a filled day as most sold a liter of fuel for N500 as against the usual price of N165.

Commuters moving from the wetheral junction to Orji were forced to pay N200 as against N100. Those commuting from control to Orji paid N250 against 150.

Commercial drivers also hiked transportation fares in Ogbaku/Irete, Portharcourt and Obinze, with passengers paying N300 for journeys that usually cost N100.

The Imo State Government through the commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, had said in a statement that it was aware of the industrial action by the marketers.

It reads, “Imo state government is aware of the plan by petroleum marketers in the state to embark upon a strike action from tomorrow, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

“Their grouse is an alleged refusal of the state government to obey a court judgment on payment of compensation to their member whose filling station at Orlu was demolished by the Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

“However, the government has reasons to believe that there is more to the planned Strike than meets the eye. First the judgment itself was hidden from the current administration and no effort was made to dialogue with the government by the aggrieved member. Inspite of this, when the government found out about the judgment, it responded appropriately as a law abiding government by proceeding on appeal.

“Secondly and curiously, the petroleum marketers have made desperate efforts to hoodwink tanker drivers to stop the supply of petroleum products to the state by midnight of Monday August 23rd,obviously using the influence of the affected member who was once a tanker driver himself. Why should the marketers succumb to involving Petroleum and Natural Gas Association of Nigeria (PENGASAN), in a local affair that has nothing to do with that association? This clearly suggests that there are other motives behind the planned strike

“The petroleum marketers must therefore be mindful of being dragged into a strike they do not know its full motive.

“Since the matter is still in court, it amounts to self help for petroleum marketers to embark on a strike which in the eyes of the law is totally illegal.

“Having submitted himself to the rule of law,the affected person ought to wait for the ruling of the higher court before proceeding on any further action.

“It therefore goes without saying that the planned strike action by petroleum marketers in Imo state is prejudicial to the extant case and therefore subjudice.

“Government is not unmindful of the consequential effects of such an illegal action on the state economy and on innocent residents of the state.

“While the Government has the responsibility to ensure the maintenance of law and order,it regrets to note that the planned strike in this volatile security situation in the country is ill advised, more so when it is glaring that it is an affront to the law.

“However,as a law abiding Government, this administration is assuring the petroleum marketers that it will abide by any decision of the highest court when the matter is fully determined.

“Since the affected owner of the demolished filling station is yet to exhaust all legal options available and since there exists a pendancy of appeal on the matter, any strike in whatever form and by whosoever named remains illegal and will be treated as such

“Finally, Government hereby advises those planning the strike to respect the law in the interest of peace and economic well being of the people.”