By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to formally invite the leadership of NUPENG for interrogation over a threat by the union to halt the distribution and supply of petroleum products in Cross Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria.

PTD also condemned the highhandedness posture of NUPENG leaders accusing them of influencing their imposed-faction of the Tanker Drivers to walk out of a peace meeting summoned on the 1st of October, 2024 by the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, through his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas Mr Ukpong Imoh Jr.

Citing danger ahead, the Tanker Drivers decided to alert the DSS and NSA to avert the impending economic sabotage being hatched by NUPENG which is capable of further plunging the nation into a full blown crisis if not nipped in the bud as quickly as possible. It further alleged that NUPENG has been using one Mr Sunday Ogunleye a.k.a Otunba, Mr Edwin Ifenjika a.k.a Okwunwanne Jr, and Mr Nwaogugu Michael, who are non Tanker Drivers to be threatening the S.A on Oil GAS to the Governor, threatening the Cross River State Government, and perpetrating all manner of brutal treatments and inflicting pains on genuine members of PTD in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

PTD in its claim also said other stooges being used to extort money from both Tanker Drivers on wheels, Applicant Drivers, and petroleum marketers in Calabar are Comrades Tijani Aliyu, Danburam Shehu Baba, Ayi Emmanuel, an Akwa-Ibomite whose mother is from Awi, in Cross River State, and one notorious imposter, Robert Obi who has been parading himself as IPMAN Chairman, despite a court judgment affirming Mr Peter Abang as the authentic IPMAN Chairman of Cross River State.

PTD’s reaction came on the heels of a press release signed by the President and the General Secretary of NUPENG on Wednesday 30th, and Thursday 31st October 2024 via thebeaglenewsonline.com where NUPENG in a show of might charged the government of Nigeria and other petroleum industry stakeholders not to recognise the Association of Distributors and Transportation of Petroleum Products (ADITOP), and threatening to down tools should ADITOP activities are not put in check.

PTD added that government should not fold its hands and allow few misguided elements in the Union to serve as a threat to its resolve in creating an enabling environment for the oil and gas workers especially the blue collar cadre to have an unfettered opportunity to freely and willingly associate with any union of their choice.

It further noted that NUPENG leadership should be thoroughly investigated and called to order for being so emboldened in causing a scare in the country in pursuit of the protection of their personal gains at the detriment of the country which also has the potential to undermine the security architecture of the country at a time the citizenry are battling with hunger and socio-economic hardship.

PTD reaction was contained in a statement signed and made available to the media on Saturday, November 1, 2024 by an elder in PTD, Kaduna Zone, Comrade (Hajia) Hadiza Hajara Gamawa at Top Rank Galaxy Hotel, Abuja.

According to her: “The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has bitten more than it can chew by charging the Federal Government of Nigeria and other petroleum industry stakeholders not to recognise the Association of Distributors and Transportation of Petroleum Products (ADITOP), and threatening to down tools if ADITOP activities are not put in check. This is highly unpatriotic and rascallity to the extreme, therefore NUPENG should rescind its position and apologize to Nigerians.

“This is also why it is important for the Department of State Services (DSS) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to swing into action and formally invite the leadership of NUPENG, especially the President, Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale for interrogation over an attempt by the union to unlawfully halt the distribution and supply of petroleum products in Cross Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria.

“NUPENG’s press releases on Wednesday October 30, and Thursday October 31, 2024 via The Beagle News online Dot com was a clear indication that the union is set for a showdown with both the Cross River State Government, and the Federal Government of Nigeria and that is a build-up for economic sabotage which can further plunge Nigeria into a serious and full blown energy crisis if not quickly addressed.

“It is needless for NUPENG to cause any scare in the country or sow seeds of discord amongst the leadership of National Association of Road Transport Owners, (NARTO), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Dangote Refinery and other key players in the industry for relating with Association of Distributors and Transportation of Petroleum Products (ADITOP). Petroleum Tankers Drivers, (PTD), aren’t toddlers; they know who to affiliate or associate with, they also know who can protect their interest. There should be no cause for alarm and NUPENG shouldn’t stir up a hornet’s nest on behalf of PTD.

“It is also important to set the record straight that Comrade Lucky Osesua remains and is still the National Chairman of PTD, while Dayyabu Garga is the 1st Deputy National Chairman, alongside Comrade Chief Peter Moudebelu (Onwa) 2nd Deputy National Chairman, while Comrade Dr Humble Obinna Power is currently serving as the National Secretary: these are the authentic National leadership known to the bonafide members of PTD.

“These genuine leaders of PTD are not as insensitive as NUPENG, Lucky Osesua and his team will not call for any senseless strike against the Cross River State Government or the Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in this very challenging times over what should be celebrated as a welcome development to lessen the burden of the ordinary Nigerian citizens. It is also important to dispel any speculation purporting that tanker drivers have been directed to stop the lifting of petroleum products in Cross Rivers State and other depots in the country. This can’t be true under our watch, 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. No union can be bigger than Nigeria particularly when the interest of the country is not accordingly served,” the union stated.

Continuing, the 72 year old Hajia Gamawa further stated, “It has become very obvious that NUPENG doesn’t have the interest of her members and that of the country at heart by fighting hard since November last year to ensure that innocent executives and members of PTD are sent to jail, and being so emboldened to issue such press release without considering the collateral damage and negative impact it could have on the citizens especially ordinary Nigerians.

“his tactless and tasteless alarm is obviously not grounded in logic and it shows the quality of leaders NUPENG currently has who are obviously toothless bulldogs. There is no shortfall in the distribution of petroleum products across the six geo-political zones of the country and PTD under the legitimate leadership of Lucky Osesua and his entire executives have redoubled their commitment to ensure and guarantee the lifting and distribution of petroleum products without encumbrances in observance of the Union’s statutory responsibility.”