The youths in Imo State have given petroleum marketers 24hrs within which they should call off their strike and open their filing stations for business or be ready to face the consequences.
The youths said they cannot seat by and watch some people inflict untold hardship on them and their benefactors as a result of a problem they did not cause.
Rising from a critical meeting of their executives in Owerri on Thursday, the youths said they have evaluated carefully the explanation given by the Imo State government in respect of the claim by the petroleum marketers and want to believe that the strike is politically-motivated and aimed at rubbishing the efforts Governor Hope Uzodimma is making to ensure that things are done properly in Imo State.
The youths said they are aware that government is prepared to take responsibility over the claims the petroleum marketers are making provided the members are prepared to allow the court processes run through its full course after the said judgement against the Imo State government had been appealed.
The youths said that the least the petroleum marketers would have done was to respect the appeal on the said judgement in their favour and as a sign that Governor Uzodimma has respect for the rule of law even when his government was not instrumental to the problem ab initio.
The youths said that the petroleum marketers must prove that they are not working against the Governor Uzodimma-led administration by calling off the strike and subjecting themselves to the peaceful early resolution of the matter faling which they will take an action the marketers will not like.
The youths said the strike has affected businesses in Imo State adversely and that they are bearing the largest chunk of the effect of the strike and have resolved to do something drastic before the petroleum marketers destroy their future.
The youths said that they have intimated all the relevant security agencies in the State and advised the petroleum marketers to call off the strike in their own interest and in the interest of peace.
Below is full text of the Communique:
A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE COALITION OF IMO YOUTHS ORGANIZATIONS AFTER HER EMERGENCY MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 26th AUGUST 2021, READ BY THE LEADER Hon. PRINCE FORTUNE CHINONSO….ON THE ONGOING STRIKE ACTION EMBARKED BY PETROLEUM MARKETERS IN THE STATE.*
The state of socio-economic impasse in Imo state, which has cause heavy unrest and pandemonium in different sectors in the state, has gotten to the brim of concern of the Youths Stakeholders in Imo state, under the auspices of COALITION OF YOUTHS ORGANIZATIONS (CYO), Imo state…
And in her response to quell this menace, orchestrated in the state through the strike action of the Petroleum Marketers Association, Imo state chapter, CYO had to seet for good, in her EMERGENCY Stakeholders meeting, held on this 26th day of August, 2021, discussed, deliberate and resolved in consensus, the following statement as a communique:
1. Imo youths, through CYO, give petroleum marketers 24hrs to call off strike, as the strike is potentially inimical to the wellbeing of the citizens, especially, the youths in the state.
2. The youths in Imo State have given petroleum marketers 24hrs within which they should call off their strike and open their filing stations for business or be ready to face the consequences of subjecting Imolites to unhealthy tensions
3. The youths said they cannot seat by and watch some people inflict untold hardship on the people, especially the youths and thei general public, as a result of a problem they did not cause.
4. Rising from a critical meeting of their executives in Owerri on Thursday, the youths said they have evaluated carefully the explanation given by the Imo State government in respect of the claim by the petroleum marketers and believe that the strike is politically-motivated and aimed at rubbishing the efforts Governor Hope Uzodimma is making to ensure restoration of normalcy in Imo State.
5. The youths said they are aware that government is prepared to take responsibility over the claims the petroleum marketers are making provided the members are prepared to allow the court processes run through its full course after the said judgement against the Imo State government had been appealed.
6. The youths said that the least the petroleum marketers would have done was to respect the appeal on the said judgement in their favour and as a sign that Governor Uzodimma has respect for the rule of law even when his government was not instrumental to the problem ab initio.
7. The youths said that the petroleum marketers must prove that they are not working against the Governor Uzodimma-led administration by calling off the strike and subjecting themselves to the peaceful early resolution of the matter faling which they will take an action the marketers will not like.
8. The youths said the strike has affected businesses in Imo State adversely and that they are bearing the largest chunk of the effect of the strike and have resolved to do something drastic before the petroleum marketers destroy their future.
9. The youths said that they have intimated all the relevant security agencies in the State and advised the petroleum marketers to call off the strike in their own interest and in the interest of peace.
Signed:
Hon. Prince Fortune Chinonso
For:
Coalition of Imo Youth Organizations.
Cc:
* Hon. Eric Uwakwe (SA) Youth Affairs to the Governor.
* Hon. Dan Ogu,
Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Imo State.
• Petroleum marketers
•Imo State House of Assembly
•Imo state commissioner for Police
• 34 Artillery,Obinze barracks
• Director of State security service,Dss
•Security agencies
•To all concerned imolites