By Frank Ulom
Comrade Peter Okim Abang-led faction has reacted to the election of Comrade Chief Robert Asue Obi as the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN Calabar Unit.
CONVERSEER reports that Chief Obi and 9 others were elected during the AGM which was held in Calabar on Monday 4 December 2023, under the supervision of Alhaji Debo Ahmed, National President of IPMAN. They are to pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman of the Calabar Unit of IPMAN, Chief Obi who is the immediate past Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Association thanked his supporters for the trust reposed in him and assured them of a better future.
Chief Obi noted that the challenging times currently pervading the Country would be overcome collectively as they eschew all forms of retrogressive tendencies among them.
Obi promised to run an open administration where every member of the Association has a voice and is recognised accordingly.
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The Chairman appealed to all those who are aggrieved in the Association to return, acknowledging the strength of unity as the way they can witness unprecedented progress in the Association.
Speaking at the end of the exercise, the National President of IPMAN, Alhaji Debo Ahmed represented by Michael Udofia, National Legal Adviser, IPMAN, expressed satisfaction with the whole process, admitting that it has finally put an end to all crises in the Calabar Unit of the Association.
Ahmed told the new Chairman to ensure that they work together in peace and harmony to enhance the growth and development of the Association and individual businesses.
He acknowledged the capacity of the Chairman and his team and expressed the hope and assurance that with them, the IPMAN Calabar unit would go places.
Meanwhile, the leader of a faction of IPMAN, Comrade Peter Okim Abang dissociated himself from the election, informing that there can’t be more than one IPMAN Chairman in a Unit and that he was duly elected by bonafide members of the Association and inaugurated last on 1 December 2023.
He described the process that brought Obi in as illegal, and, “a kangaroo arrangement instituted to bring in more crises.”
He appealed to members to disregard the so-called Obi-led executive as it’s a product of desperation, pointing out that at the forthcoming AGM, the issue would be put to rest.
