The ongoing battle between the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and some other players in the downstream sector has taken another dimension.
During a live radio show anchored by Chief Abolade Salami on Fresh 105.9 fm in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State on Sunday morning, a former gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the state, Alhaji Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale carpeted petrol dealers accusing them of working against the people of Nigeria.
The politician mentioned major independent marketers like SAO Petroleum, GASTAB and others saying “they are only interested in making money and more money. They want to hold Dangote Refinery to ransom.
“Were they not there when Alhaji Aliko Dangote came up with the idea of starting a refinery years back? Did anyone stop them from starting their own refineries? Now that Dangote is trying his best to bring down the cost of petrol and other products, they are fighting for their own pockets”.
When PMParrot contacted Alhaji Akinwale on the phone after the radio show to reconfirm what he said on the issue during the live Radio Show, the Ibadan born politician said “yes, I said made all the allegations against SAO Petroleum and others. They are not bigger than Nigerians. They should think of the masses for the first time. I know you journalists will think because they support you with adverts and others you cannot confront them. We have to tell ourselves the truth. We are the ones suffering ourselves. Dangote and President Tinubu’s government are trying their best. These people have not been happy since subsidy regime was terminated.
Hon Akinwale then called on President Tinubu to quickly intervene so that those he referred to as ‘enemies of the people’ will not paralyse Dangote Refinery.
“They should not be allowed to add more to the suffering of the teeming masses”, Akinwale added.
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
