Business booms for ‘black marketers’ as petrol dealers declare indefinite strike in Ekiti

Vehicular movement activities was yesterday paralysed in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, as members of the Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) across the state closed shop to protest government’s policy on ‎revocation of Certificate of Occupancy (C of Os) granted to members.

The group specifically lambasted Governor Ayodele Fayose over his alleged tirades against the members on radio and television and the placing of ban on the construction of filling stations, even by those that had got the approval for such project.

Few vehicles were seen on major highways across Ekiti, leading to hike in price on the premise that they bought petrol from black marketers.

The group said the strike will continue until the governor reversed the action and tender apology to members over abuses he hurled at them. Fayose, had while appearing on a programme being aired and beamed by
state radio and television, Mr Governor Explains’ , on Sunday allegedly labeled the group as ‘extortionists’, who placed premium on profit making at the expense of the well-being of the populace.

At a press conference jointly addressed by Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers(NUPENG) and PEDAN in Ado Ekiti, they insisted that government cannot afford to be punishing his members, while also owing them N80m, being supplies made on Diesel and petrol to
government by members.

The statement signed by PEDAN’s Chairman, Owoeye Ayodele, Secretary, Alhaji Suleman Akinbami and NUPENG Chairman, Com Jegede Olumide, called for immediate reversal of all the new levies and taxes imposed on them by government.

The statement, which was read by Alhaji Suleman Akinbami said: “I have been in petrol business for 30 years and the first time Ekiti had fire incident was the case of January 8, 2017 at Strive Energy Petrol
Station at Ijigbo in Ado Ekiti.

“As I speak with you, victims had been compensated contrary to what the governor said that each of them got as low as N10,000. About 18 of the victims have received compensations.‎

“So, we are not even ready to go on strike until when Mr Governor appeared on radio and television on Sunday where he incited the public against us and called us thieves. Is it a crime for us to invest in
Ekiti. What have we done wrong to warrant these abuses?”‎ Akinbami, who articulated further the positions of the body demanded that: “Apart from the foregoing, we want Governor Fayose to withdraw

case against our member and owner of Strive Energy Petrol Station and we want the ban placed on the operation of the station be lifted.

“Government must ensure that the released armed robbers who attacked a petrol station at Ilawe Ekiti are apprehended and brought to justice.‎ “We totally reject inciting of public against our members by Governor
Fayose and we demand public apology for this”, he said.

Meanwhile, Fayose, who said his government won’t back down on its policies said: “we are not owing them anything. My government didn’t owe them it was Dr Kayode Fayemi’s administration that owed them.‎”
“Let me just ask, why did they wait till they were owed such huge
amount of money? I have nothing to pay them because I am not owing them”, Fayose said.