All filling stations were shut in Ekiti State on Monday as petrol dealers began an indefinite strike action in protest against Governor Ayo Fayose’s order revoking Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) granted them.
Acting under the aegis of the state chapter of Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), they maintained that the action would continue until the governor reverses the policy and tender a public apology.
The oil marketers also criticized Fayose for hurling abuses at them during his monthly media chat held Sunday evening in which he called them “extortioners who are only interested in profit making at the expense of wellbeing of the populace.”
Members of the association went round Ado Ekiti and other parts of the state to ensure that no filling station was opened for business a development which is already taking its toll on traffic.
Addressing a briefing in in conjunction with the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), PEDAN said the strike was in solidarity with their members affected by the new policy.
PEDAN Chairman, Ayodele Owoeye, Secretary, Sulaiman Akinbami and NUPENG Chairman, Olumide Jegede, said the policy was capable of crippling businesses of oil marketers if left unchallenged.
Reading a prepared speech, Akinbami said: “I have been in petrol business for 30 years and the first time Ekiti had fire incident was the case of January 8, 2017 at Strive Energy Petrol Station at Ijigbo in Ado Ekiti.
“As I speak with you, victims had been compensated contrary to what the governor said that each of them got as low as N10,000. About 18 of the victims have received compensations .
“So, we are not even ready to go on strike until when Mr Governor appeared on radio and television on Sunday where he incited the public against us and called us thieves. Is it a crime for us to invest in Ekiti. What have we done wrong to warrant these abuses?”, he asked.
“Apart from the foregoing, we want Governor Fayose withdraw case against our member and owner of Strive Energy Petrol Station and we want the ban placed on the operation of the station be lifted.
“Government must ensure that the released armed robbers who attacked a petrol station at Ilawe Ekiti are apprehended and brought to justice. We totally reject inciting of public against our members by Governor Fayose and we demand public apology for this”, he said.
Civil servants and operators of small scale businesses, including artisans whose jobs depended principally on use of petrol, were the worst hit, with many either trekking long distances, pay higher to get to their offices or close shop.
Only few vehicles as well as small number of commercial motorcycles ply the road due to non availability of fuel attendants.
