Ifeanyi Ubah: PTD denies plan to embark on solidarity strike

The Petroleum Tanker Drives (PTD) has denied allegations of complicity with the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah to embark on strike, in order to disrupt distribution of petroleum products. In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Otunba Salmon Oladiti, the leadership of PTD dismissed the allegation as “baseless, unfounded and totally untrue.”

The Department of State Service (DSS) over the weekend arrested Ubah over allegations of theft of petrol worth N11 billion. A statement by an official of DSS said Ubah further engaged “in other activities inimical to national security and public order by inciting members of the PTD, a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the Petroleum Industry, to refuse/ stop the lifting of products”.

It alleged that this was part of Ubah’s plans to curry their sentiments and cause them to embark on strike and also stage protests in his favour, with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products.

Responding to the DSS’ statement, Oladiti said PTD has no relationship with Ubah “beyond the precinct of promoting, projecting and protecting the security of jobs and welfare of our members. Our responsibility as a trade union is solely to promote, project and protect the job security and welfare of workers, most especially the petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria.”

The union restated its commitment to the Federal Government anti corruption fight saying “any capitalist/ employer found culpable of stealing, diversion or embezzlement of government funds should be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law.”