C’River Govt, IPMAN mend fences over leadership tussle
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State government and the leadership of the Calabar Unit of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have mended fences over a misunderstanding between them some weeks ago.
This follows the outcome of a courtesy visit by the Calabar Unit of IPMAN on the Secretary to the Cross River State government, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Enoh lauded the oil sector players for their efforts to amicably resolve issues while putting the overall interest of all stakeholders above personal and minute interests.
He thanked the delegation for the visit and explained that he attended an event involving the national IPMAN official and others in Calabar on an individual capacity, not as official of government.
“When last we met with Mr. Asue, somehow the impression was that the state government was being partisan because my presence at the occasion signaled government support for the action of Mr Okim Abang.
“When I got the reaction from IPMAN stakeholders, I wrote a kind of apology explaining that my presence at the said event was purely personal, reason why I did not make any statement. So when I heard of the outcry from you, I had to tender my unreserved apology with all humility.
“The state government is grateful for the hard work and harmony in the oil sector. The Nigerian economy is heavily dependent on oil and any sneeze in the sector affects the entire nation. CRS is not excluded. It would have been very unreasonable for the state government, by my presence, to be the one to cause any problem in the oil sector.
“We crave for harmony in the oil sector. Because only through harmony, calm, understanding among stakeholders can the government have the best. We know the role you play in terms of your contributions to the growth of the economy of the state in supply, taxes and other revenue sources”, he said.
He reassured the IPMAN leadership of support
Reassuring IPMAN of government support, saying the state government will work in partnership with the various stakeholders in the oil sector for the betterment of the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of IPMAN, Prince Robert Obi, congratulated the state governor and his deputy on their assumption of office as well as the governor’s wise selection of a technocrat as Secretary to the State Government.
He said the purpose of the visit was to introduce the IPMAN leadership and stakeholders of the Depot community to the government through the SSG and solicit the present administration’s support, as well as pledge IPMAN’s unflinching cooperation to the Otu-led government.
The IPMAN boss thanked Prof. Enoh for his humility in tendering an apology over his hitherto misconstrued presence at an event at the instance of the Union’s dissidents.
