The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), South East zone, has threatened to shut down depots in Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcourt over what it described as incessant police harassment of its leaders.
The Cross River State chairman of the association, Mr. Robert Obi, disclosed this on Friday during an interview with journalists in Calabar.
He said the decision to close all the depots and filling stations was reached at after series of meetings with some stakeholders on the alleged moves by the police legal unit at the force headquarters, Abuja.
He alleged that the move was to arrest its executives across the zone and possibly install a factional leadership.
He said that the action, if carried out, would lead to more crisis in the association in spite of various court pronouncements laying the matter to rest.
The South East zone of IPMAN comprises Abia, Benue, Cross River, Enugu, and Rivers states with over 40 depots, 1000 petrol stations and about 2,000 members.
The zone has been having a running battle with officers of the police over alleged attempt by the police to “impose” a factional leadership on the association.
Obi frowned at the alleged illegal moves by the police authorities and some “disgruntled elements” to either misinterpret the Supreme Court ruling or subvert the will of the people.
He alleged that their aim is to impose their cronies on the association even when the facts of the matter are clear.
He said: “Following the legal advice, the police are putting all arsenals to arrest the current executives of IPMAN in Nigeria, particularly in Calabar NNPC depot and hand them over to the people of their choice.
“IPMAN warns that further step shouldn’t be taken by the Police to interfere with the current leadership of the association and we will shut down the distribution channels of petroleum and allied products in Nigeria pending when the police abide by the right thing.
“IPMAN leadership has resolved to continue with their rights in the constitution and abide by the extant laws and subsisting judgments of the courts in their favour,” Obi said.
But the police spokesman, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said he is not aware of the matter.