IPMAN Leadership Tussle: Calabar Unit Chairman, Peter Okim Abang Sets the Record Straight, Debunks False Allegation Against the SSG, Others

IPMAN Leadership Tussle: Calabar Unit Chairman, Peter Okim Abang Sets the Record Straight, Debunks False Allegation Against the SSG, Others.

In a statement released today and made available to the media his aide, Eriacy Confidence, Peter Okim Abang, the duly elected Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Cross River State, has refuted allegations made by The Beagle News in an article published on May 28, 2024.

Abang described the article, written by Ndifreke BASSEY, as "misleading" and "full of falsehoods and inaccuracies." He stated that the allegations against the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, are "false, misleading, and malicious."

The SSG's office has maintained neutrality and upheld the principles of fairness and justice in all matters, Abang said, adding that the state government, after conducting a thorough investigation, discovered that the serial liar had misled them on the truth and fact of the matter, leading to his endorsement.

Abang also challenged the writer and their sponsor to produce documents corroborating the claim that Obi has been endorsed as chairman and him as vice chairman, describing it as a "fabrication" that only exists in the writer's imagination.

He posed questions to Obi and his group, asking who conducted their election, who their president and zonal chairman are, and why they continue to claim leadership when the national, zonal, and unit leadership and members have recognized him as the authentic chairman.

Abang urged the public to disregard the baseless claims and focus on the truth, calling on Obi and his group to embrace unity and reconciliation for the benefit of all IPMAN members, the growth of the petroleum sector, and the progress and development of Cross River State.

A certificate of return was attached to the statement, signed by Abang as the IPMAN Chairman, Calabar Unit.

The statement reads,

"SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON IPMAN CROSS RIVER LEADERSHIP

In response to the misleading article published by The Beagle News on May 28, 2024, I am compelled to correct the falsehoods and inaccuracies contained within. The article, written by Ndifreke BASSEY, a faceless businessman masquerading as a writer, seeks to undermine my leadership and the progress made so far in IPMAN Cross River State.

Firstly, the allegation that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, fueled the leadership crisis in the Calabar unit of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) by endorsing two factions with different letters is false, misleading, and malicious. The SSG's office has never taken sides and has maintained neutrality, upholding the principles of fairness and justice in all matters. Rather, the state government, having carried out a thorough investigation, discovered that the serial liar had misled them on the truth and fact of the matter. Hence the reason for my endorsement.

Secondly, the claim that Obi has been endorsed as chairman and me as vice chairman is a fabrication and only happened in the figment of the imagination of the writer and his patron. I  challenge the writer and their sponsor to produce documents corroborating this claim.

Unfortunately, the same faceless falsehood peddler had attempted to create chaos and division within the association by publishing a poorly written article on May 18, 2024 on the same platform.

To set the record straight, I, Peter Okim Abang was duly elected as the chairman of IPMAN Cross River State in an election conducted by Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, the immediate past president of IPMAN. The election was free, fair, and transparent, and conducted in the presence of the zonal chairman, national officers, state government, and other stakeholders.

I wish to pose simple questions to Obi and his group: Who conducted your election? Who is your president? Who is your zonal chairman? Why do you continue to claim leadership when the national, zonal, and unit leadership and members have recognized me as the authentic chairman?

The article's claims of court judgments and police reports are a smokescreen to divert attention from their own illegitimacy. We urge the public to disregard these baseless claims and focus on the truth.

I call on Obi and his group to embrace unity and reconciliation. Let us work together for the benefit of all members of IPMAN CRS, the growth of the petroleum sector and the progress and development of Cross River State. Enough is enough; it's time to put aside greed and selfish interests.

Attached: Certificate of Return.

E-signed:

Peter Okim Abang

IPMAN Chairman

Calabar Unit."