The Imo State Government on Wednesday said it has uncovered lies about the claim of a fuel station, Sunaz oil Limited, allegedly demolished by the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, which resulted in the strike embarked on by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Imo State chapter.
The state government described the claim as a total fabrication made by the enemies of the state to incite the people against the government.
The disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, who led a team and reporters that investigated the filling station located at Amaigbo in Umuna, Orlu.
Addressing reporters in Owerri, the state capital, the commissioner said that the petrol station claimed to have been damaged is still standing firm and dispensing petrol to customers.
Emelumba said ‘you can see that there a lot is not adding up, a petrol station that is at the centre of the storm is still there working and perfectly doing business. That is why they are not straightforward in their dealing. That clearly gives credence to the position of the government that this matter is before the appeal court.
‘We have the facts on the ground that the petrol station was demolished and they are claiming damage which came to N100 million but the petrol station was not demolished.
‘It is incredible that this type of thing is happening. We want to use this opportunity to appeal to Imo people and indeed all men of goodwill to call these people to order because there is something funny somewhere. How can one claimed that his filling station was demolished and there is evidence now that it is not,’ Emelumba said.
The oil marketers embarked on strike recently, claiming damages to the said filling station demolished during Okorocha’s administration.
But the state government acting on a tip-off on Tuesday stormed the very station in Orlu dispensing fuel to its customers.
Okorocha through his special adviser on media, Sam Onwuemeodo, had earlier denied the claim that he demolished the said filling station during his administration.
The statement reads: ‘Senator Okorocha or the government he presided over as governor never demolished any fuel station. And we stand to be contradicted or proved wrong. And the onus to do so is on the shoulder of those who had tried to give that false impression.’
Credit: The Sun