The newly elected chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Rivers State chapter, comrade Sunny Graham Nkpe, said his administration would get rid of illegal taskforce in the refinery deport.
Comrade Nkpa gave the assurance while giving his acceptance speech shortly after being elected as the chairman at the Altantic Hall of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt.
According to him, this became necessary to bring sanity in the refinery deports.
The Eleme born petroleum marketer further assured that he would satisfy all the responsibilities given to him by members of the association, render selfless services, serve them with dignity and humility, be a listening leader, as well as change the life of the marketers for better.
Comrade Nkpe who scored 137 votes to defeat his opponent, chief Osaro Omasi Nwafor, the Managing Director of Mimi petroleum who scored 39 votes, called on his opponent and those who lost at the election, to join hands with the new executive, make their imputes, give advices where necessary. He assured that his administration would have an open door to every member as well as promised to carry them along in the scheme of things.
Earlier in his speech before the election, comrade Achisa Igwe, the National Chairman of NUPENG who conducted the election, commended those who participated despite rumours that the election would not hold. He noted that the era of backwardness and creating violence during elections was over, stressing that the association would henceforth move forward.
In his speech, Dr. Chigo N. Nworgu the former caretaker committee chairman of the association, described IPMAN as a Major player in the downstream Petroleum industry, noting that it was the association’s responsibility to elect on board people with integrity, intellectuality and focus. He urged members of the association to choose those that would restore the dignity of the association and not those that would enrich themselves to the detriment of the association.
The newly elected PRO of the association, Evangelist Obinna Nwanna thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the election and commended members for electing him and his colleagues despite the controversy before the election. He advised all members to forgive one another and embrace peace to move the association forward.
In their separate speeches, some of the members who spoke after the election such as comrade Timothy Ogbu, Comrade Chiebere Okafor, Comrade Igwe Atuzie, while congratulating the new executives described the election as peaceful and urged the new executive to ensure peace in the depot, ensure that drivers do not park their vehicles indiscriminately, restore sanity as well as carry everyone along in the scheme of things.
It would be recalled that prior to the election, three chairmanship aspirants, comrade Nkpe, Chief Osaro Omasi Nwafor and Osaro Ejor, the incumbent chairman, indicated interest to contest. However due to controversy that characterized the election, comrade Osaro Ejor boycotted the election leaving the two other aspirants to battle for the election.
Other executive officers who were elected include, comrade Achineke Etiu, Vice chairman, Obi Cletus, Secretary, Theresa Eyo, Treasurer, Obelle, Assistant secretary, Tamuno Udo, Fin Sec., Elder Chinedu Ogadike, Organizing secretary, Prince Ozuigwe, Auditor, Ikechukwu Nwakazie, Special adviser, Chibudum Blessing, Chief whip, Sir. Silas Onwuma, Chief of Staff, Opus Dappa, ex-officio II.
The highlight of the ceremony was the visit to the refinery depot, IPMAN secretariat, paying of homage to HRM Samuel Ejiri, the Oneh-Eleme and HRH Emperor John Nkpe the paramount ruler of Elesa Eleme, in Eleme LGA of Rivers State. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
