*Says economic sabotage is a serious crime
The leadership of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has assured the people, government and stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry of its unalloyed commitment to the lifting and distribution of products across the length and breadth of the country.
The National Chairman of PTD, Comrade Lucky Osesua and the National Secretary, Comrade Humble Power Obinna gave this assurance in a statement they jointly signed on Tuesday.
The PTD leadership also urged the public to ignore any threat coming from their parent union not to lift petroleum products from certain depots in the country, adding that Nigeria was bigger than any individual.
The PTD appealed to members of the public not to engage in panic buying, stressing that there were sufficient products made available for distribution at various depots.
It as well insisted that the alleged plot to remove Lucky Osesua, Yusuf Garga, Humble Power Obinna as Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the PTD has failed in its entirety. Specifically, it said the plan by the group collectively led by Augustine Egbon, Afolabi Olawale, Williams Akporeha and Salimon Oladiti remained “an enterprise in futility.
The statement reads in full: ‘’There is no shortfall in the distribution of petroleum products across the six geo political zones of the country and PTD under the legitmate leadership of Comrade Lucky Osesua and his Deputy Comrade Dayyabu Garga has redoubled its commitment to ensure and guarantee lifting and distribution of petroleum products without encumbrance in observance of its statutory responsibility.
“We are also using this medium to set the record straight that we are not former PTD National leaders, Comrade Lucky Osesua remains and still the National Chairman of PTD, while Comrade Dayyabu Garga is the Deputy National Chairman, alongside Comrade Humble Power Obinna who is currently serving as our National Secretary.
“However, Afolabi Olawale and the President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and others who they are misleading should be properly guided that we were never charged or convicted for murder, neither are we ex-convicts. Afolabi and Williams cannot also teach the judiciary their job or try to be preemptive of the outcome of the Court’s decision. In their own interest, we hope their counsel will properly educate them on the doctrines of Court contempt and subjudice. The plans by the group collectively led by Augustine Egbon, Afolabi Olawale, Williams Akporeha and Salimon Oladiti remained an enterprise in futility.
“We further use this medium to dispel any speculation purporting that Tanker Drivers have been directed to stop the lifting of petroleum products in some depots in the country.
“This is not true, and Nigerians should not as a result of this misinformation engage in panic buying and we strongly assure stakeholders in the petroleum industry’s value chain that PTD is committed to its noble roles of lifting and distribution of products across the country.
“As socially responsible trade unionists, we understand the impact of economic sabotage, especially in an economy like that of Nigeria: therefore, on no condition will PTD be involved in this kind of inhuman and satanic agenda.
“It is also a vicious phenomenon that can undermine the rule of law, weaken democratic processes, and exacerbate social inequalities and tension.
“More pathetic is that businesses, livelihoods, and the most vulnerable segments of the society, such as the poor and downtrodden, suffer greatly from the consequences of this kind of mindless and thoughtless act.
“Economic sabotage is a serious crime, and we want DSS to take note and act accordingly.
“We therefore direct all our members in all the zones across Nigeria not to heed any instruction from NUPENG or anyone else to stop them from the lifting of petroleum products.
“We equally urge Nigerians and motorists to avoid storing of petrol at home because of the dangers associated with it.
“Meanwhile, fuel is available; we have visited many depots and we can confirm loading is going on; there is no cause for alarm. We have instructed our Tanker Drivers to engage in 24-hour loading activities and lift products from depots to filling stations across the country.
“As a union known for honour, integrity and sincerity for almost five decades, we reaffirm our commitment in supporting the Federal Government’s efforts on effective, efficient and uninterrupted distribution of petroleum products across the country for industrial, domestic and commercial use and this remains sacrosanct.”
