By Ejimonu Udenka
The Amalgamated Consumer Coalition Enforcement Association (ACCEA) an Onitsha based NGO and consumer interest promoters league has condemned the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Petroleum Distributors Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) for bringing untold hardship to innocent consumers in Anambra State by embarking on sudden strike action to stop the sale of petroleum products thereby worsening the effect of the economic recession.
The condemnation was contained in a statement by the President of the Association, Prince Ikpedi Obumneme, who described the action of the petroleum marketers as “unprovoked, reckless and a blackmail on the consumers who are paying for the sins of exploitative unions who do not care about others. Said he:
“How can we explain a situation where the petroleum dealers stopped sales without warning just because their colleague had issues with officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.”
I became worried like everyone when I couldn’t get fuel for my car with rumours making rounds and I mobilized my people. It was in the process that we understood the true situation. “A tanker driver reportedly refused to stop when flagged down around Ihiala axis by the Civil Defense and ran into a ditch thereby losing its product hence the resort to strike by the union.” How does the disobedience or disagreement with lawful authorities concern Ndi Anambra? He queried.
Prince Obumneme, said that the consumer league is using the opportunity to call on IPMAN and PEDAN to call off the strike to save the citizens of the state from unwarranted hardship .In the same vein, he called on politicians to avoid using flimsy issues to mis-inform the populace in a bid to score political point, stressing that Anambra is enjoying peaceful co-existence which should be encouraged and not sabotaged.
