by crossriverwatch admin
Mr. Rekpene Bassey, the Cross River State Security Adviser has called on Independent Petroleum Product Marketers in the state to avoid calling out members on incessant strikes which are often not in the best interest of the association and the society.
Mr Bassey who gave the advice to IPMAN executive that paid him a courtesy call in his office Tuesday stated that often such strikes are counterproductive as they only affect the poor in the society rather than the elites or government officials. “Except you want to tell me that your strikes are meant to inflict pain on the poor members of the society otherwise you ought to be more introspective in your action because your recent actions did not affect the significant elements in the society like you and me but the ordinary man who has no idea of what the strike is about”.
The State Security Adviser called on the IPMAN to look beyond the immediate cause or reason to resort to strike but figure out the untold hardship the strike will inflict on the economy of the country and the ordinary man who is at the receiving end.
He said the state has done much to ensure a secure and conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive and called on them to commit resources to the wellbeing of the state. “Out of 170 million Nigerians, God has abundantly blessed a few of you such that you are key players in the downstream sector of oil and gas so you need to be strategic in your operations and the state government has launched the Security Trust Fund, you need make your contribution to the fund.” Mr. Bassey stated.
He called on them not to cause crisis in the society because God has chosen to at this time bless them but to bless others through humanitarian activities and well planned business operations.
Mr. Michael Udofia, the Chairman of IPMAN stated that the association employs 14.2 million Nigerians as tanker drivers, conductors, filling station operators and own over ninety percent of the trucks used in the lifting of petroleum products.
He said Cross River State is a significant component in the petroleum distribution in the country as the depot located in Calabar supplies fuel to Ebonyi, Benue, Adamawa states and bridges fuel to the north east states of the country.
Mr. Udofia said time has come when IPMAN should be taken seriously when initiating issues that affect its members and the society.
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