… As Transport administration inaugurates interim exco in Ogun***
Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, the National President, of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has lauded the Nigeria Police Force for efforts to resolve the association’s leadership tussle.
Okoronkwo said this in an interview with the newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
He flayed the recent threat by some marketers in South East Zone to shut down depots and filling stations in the zone over alleged police harassment.
According to him, the threat by the marketers is to prevent the police from enforcing the judgment of the Supreme Court which laid to rest the leadership tussle in IPMAN.
“For the record, the leadership issue of IPMAN has been settled by a Supreme Court judgment delivered in Abuja on Dec. 14, 2018.
“The judgment read by Justice Musa Muhammad in suit No. SC15/2015 recognised my humble self and Alhaji Danladi Pasali as President and Secretary of IPMAN respectively.
“The learned justices also awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellant, Chief Lawson Obasi in favour of the respondents which the gentleman had since complied with.’’
Okoronkwo said acting on this judgment, the police invited some persons in the South East claiming to be a faction of IPMAN for a meeting over the issue.
He said the directive was given by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, to ensure that peace returns to the association with members abiding to the court’s decision.
Okoronkwo said, “the Supreme Court, which is the final arbiter of cases in Nigeria has delivered judgment on this matter which must be obeyed by all parties.
“However, some marketers in Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Calabar and Makurdi have refused to obey the judgment of the court which prompted the intervention of the police based on the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“The police have invited them for a meeting and rather than honouring the invitation, they have resorted to issuing a threat of disrupting the petroleum products supply process in the zone.
“I commend the police for their intervention and I am urging them not to allow the frivolous threat by some mischief makers to prevent them from carrying out their statutory responsibilities.’’
Okoronkwo enjoined IPMAN members to go about their respective businesses without any fear of intimidation.
He said the association would continue to support efforts by the Federal Government to ensure smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
In another development, the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) on Tuesday inaugurated a seven-man interim executive committee to take charge of its affairs in Ogun.
The Registrar/Secretary of CIOTA, Mr Rasheed Aiyelabegan, speaking at the inauguration of the interim executive members in Abeokuta, urged them to put in their best to achieve the council’s set goals in the state.
The new executive members are Michael Ajayi, Chairman; Sodeinde Tokunbo; Ami Ganiyu; Margaret Ogunbiyi; Kunle Ajibade, Public Relations Officer; Kolawole Ajayi and Rolake Filani.
The newsmen report that the interim exco will run the affairs of the council for nine months, after which a substantive election will be conducted for elected exco members.
Aiyelabegan noted that the CIOTA was introduced to Ogun following the contributions of Mr Seni Ogunyemi, the Corps Commander, Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, also known as TRACE.
He said that CIOTA, however, had been in existence for 36 years and was formally known as the Institute of Transport of Nigeria (IOTA).
President of CIOTA, Mr Bashir Jamoh, who was represented by Ogunyemi, said that the council and TRACE had worked in synergy in repositioning its workforce and had achieved a milestone in the area of professional advancement.
“Our relationship has been quite cordial, long-standing and professional and this is evident from the number of members of staff who are today certified members of CIOTA.
“Our vision is to develop the transport profession, maintain professional standards, and improve the skills of transport practitioners, enabling them to deliver exceptional value for their organisations.
“The national body will continue to provide leadership in driving the institute’s professional responsibility for the development of its members and transport art and science,” Jamoh said.
Earlier, Ajayi, who spoke on behalf of other interim exco members, commended the effort and good works of their predecessors toward the progress and development of the association.
Ajayi, who is also a Deputy Corps Commander of TRACE, reiterated the commitment to coordinate the activities of CIOTA until when the election of a substantive executive would be conducted in line with the constitution.
The interim chairman gave assurance that the interim exco would surpass the expectations of the council, adding that his team would not let the council down.
