Petrol Dealers Suspend Strike In Ekiti
Residents of Ekiti state yesterday heaved a sigh of relief as owners of petrol station suspended their strike and re-opened their business premises for business.
The Secretary of the Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria in the state, Alhaji suleiman Akinbami told newsmen in Ado Ekiti that the strike was suspended to accord respect to top traditional rulers, elders and security chiefs who intervened in the matter.
Besides,he said the growing appeals mounted by suffering members of
the public also informed their action.
He however warned that the association would resume its suspended action if the state government still went ahead to implement its threat to revoke all approvals made in respect of fuel stations built in residential areas.
Many concerned residents of some major towns lamented the difficulties
they were going through as a result of the indefinite strike embarked
upon by the fuel marketers since Monday.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said the position of the state government regarding the operations and location of petrol stations in the state remains unchanged.
The governor stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday while reacting to the decision of petrol dealers in the state to suspend their two-day strike.
The dealers had shut their stations on Monday to protest government policies concerning their operations.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said his administration would not succumb to subtle blackmail and stick to policies aimed at protecting the lives and properties of the people of the state.
“If they like, let them go on with their strike. We won’t compromise standards. We won’t also allow anybody to jeopardize the lives and properties of our people under the guise of conducting their own businesses. The other time we made our stance known on the herdsmen’s menace, we all saw the results.
“Filling stations located in residential areas won’t be allowed to function. Some petrol stations under construction in locations not approved will be taken over by the government,” he said.
The governor later visited one of such fuel stations that is being converted to a car park in Okeyinmi area of Ado-Ekiti.
