From: Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Delta State Government has exonerated itself from the leadership crisis rocking the state chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), saying the election was cancelled as a result of rancour among members which has led a a court case.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor said, in Asaba, on Monday, that the state government did not induce the present crisis but that government was actually interested in providing enabling environment for IPMAN to thrive.
IPMAN members, at the weekend protested against alleged underhand tactics by the state government to install a stooge as state chairman of the union by persistently postponing the election.
The protesting unionists threatened to shut down all the fuel depots across the state if the election was not conducted.
Daily Sun learnt that the election was shifted from November 18 to December 1, only to be further postponed indefinitely after IPMAN had mobilised for the exercise.
However, Mrakpor told journalists that the state government had no interest in projecting any chairmanship candidate, adding that the election was put on hold because of security concerns.
According to Mrakpor, a faction of the union pulled out of the exercise, and instituted a case at the Federal High Court, Warri where the state Attorney-General was joined as a defendant.
He said: “Government’s role, based on IPMAN’s appeal, is to create the enabling environment. Government has no interest in the election, it has no preferred candidate.
“One faction of IPMAN pulled out of the exercise and went to the Federal High Court in Warri. So the election has been put on hold because it cannot be held under an atmosphere of rancour. The Attorney-General was joined in the suit as a defendant.”
Also, in a government announcement signed by the Director of Information, Ministry of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor said there were moves by some persons to cause mayhem and disrupt the election, hence the need to put it off.
Osahor warned all individuals and groups who are engaged in any nefarious act aimed at disrupting the operations of the Warri depot to desist forthwith as security agencies have been directed to ensure that such miscreants are arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.