Group Calls For Shut Down Of IPMAN Secretariat, Accuses Incumbent Chairman, BenJones Of Fueling Crisis

A group, under the auspices of Concerned Marketers Group (CMG), has accused the incumbent chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN), Delta State Chapter, Mr. Benjamin Emoefe aka BenJones of fueling the crisis rocking the association in order to perpetuate himself in power.

The group in a petition calling for the shut down of IPMAN secretariat and made available to BigPen Online on Saturday, alleged that Ben Jones was frustrating the election in connivance with some undisclosed individuals and officials.

Expressing their displeasure over the suspension of the election, the group in the protest dated December 1, 2017, addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the State Commissioner of Police as well as the Directorate of State Security, Delta State Command, said that majority of the petroleum marketers know the incumbent chairman of the body was responsible for the stalement.

The group said that the hope of majority of the marketers to effect a change in the “poisonous leadership style of the incumbent officials” were dashed on December 1st, after the intervention of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Peter Mrakpor alongside some State Executives and Security Agencies.

“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.

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“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; Election Date be fixed as soon as possible and, that all IPMAN products allocation must be based on program.

“It could be recalled that as early as 7:00am on December 1, 2017, an unprecedented crowd of Petroleum Marketers including Concerned Group of IPMAN and supporters High Comrade Zino Onaimor, 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 aka Benjones, allegedly in alliance with some external forces, aborted the peaceful election process.

Meanwhile, addressing newsmen during a protest to the state Police headquarters, Mr. Peter Ena, a member of CMG, said that emergence of Comrade Zino, BenJones’s main rival for the chairmanship position will not only transform the entire association but create a better environment for Marketers to operate.

Speaking in the same vein, another member, Barr. James Efe described the “sit tight incumbent leadership” of Comrade Benjamin led executive as a setback to the Association.

He revealed that Benjones 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”, he lamentated.

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The group therefore called on NUPENG to desist from interfering in the affairs of IPMAN, as IPMAN insisting that IPMAN doesn’t 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 into the activities of our body. IPMAN is an Association and not a Union”, they cautioned.

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