Owing to refusal of fuel marketers in Ekiti State to sell petroleum products to the public by reason of their grouse with the state government, drivers, artisans and other stakeholders in Ekiti have decided to hold a mass rally against the dealers in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
The groups, consisting of members of the Okada Riders Association, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Aje-Igboro Drivers Union, Cooperative Transporters among others disclosed their intention at a meeting where State Government officials and the Commissioner of Police were present.
Mr Clement Adekola of the NURTW, Ayowoju Adekunle representing Ajegboro Drivers and Dahunsi Olaniyi of the Okada Riders decried action of the dealers.
Adekola said “the refusal of the dealers to sell fuel has caused a lot of hardship to our members and the public at large. Our governor is only acting in the interest of the people of the state. They have to abide with laid down regulations and rules.
“They must go into dialogue with the state government and let them find common grounds. We are marching against them on Wednesday, we are going to do it peacefully and express our displeasure and fight for the corporate welfare of Ekiti people.”
CP Ibrahim Chafe in his reaction said leaders of NUPENG and PENGASSAN were on their way to Ado-Ekiti to find means of resolving the matter.
He added that if the matter was not resolved before Wednesday morning, they could go on their rally but pleaded for a peaceful exercise.
Governor Ayodele Fayose in his address stressed that nobody can stop them from going on any rally but frowned on the attitude of the dealers.
He stated that the dealers only wanted to blackmail and hold the state to ransom but that he would not allow that.
