PRESS RELEASE
ln the past few days , following the strike embarked upon by Petrol dealers or marketers in the state, we had read and heard stories, including innuendos and insinuations, to the effect that , the government Senator Rochas Okorocha superintended demolished a petrol station and for which the dealers in the state had “gone home” to make the government of the day pay the victim what the judgement on the matter prescribed.
Indeed, we had earlier read the press statement by the Commissioner for information, Hon. Mbadiwe Emelumba on the development.
We equally listened to some radio and online commentaries on the issue.
In all these, some of them had given the erroneous impression that the government of Okorocha demolished the fuel station that occasioned or prompted the action of the petrol marketers in the state.
Unfortunately , neither the government nor any of the commentators had deemed it necessary to mention the name of the petrol station involved and where it was located.
The marketers themselves and the Government have also not availed the public with the copies of the court judgement in question , to enable interested people know the nucleus or crux of the matter , at least, for the sake of informed opinions .
In other words, those who had spoken on the issue had done so out of curiosity or emotions or hearsay since they have not read the judgement or know the name and site of the fuel station.
And we have decided to make a statement at least, for the avoidance of doubt.
Senator Okorocha or the Government he presided over as governor , never demolished any fuel station. And we stand to be contradicted or to be proved wrong. And the onus to do so, is on the shoulder of those who had tried to give that false impression.
Let the government publish the court papers or the judgement for public scrutiny since the marketers may not be willing to do that.
We would also want to know the name of the petrol station in question and its location, so that people can on their own go to the place to see things themselves .
The problem has been that the CampHope Government in the state has developed charity for blame game or passing buck and against that backdrop , has continued to misfire.
There is no fuel station without a name and location. Let the public be given the privilege of knowing all these for obvious reasons.
The government should have, abinitio , taken the matter to the court of public opinion by publishing the judgement, in lieu of the fruitless effort to drag the name of Okorocha into the matter.
The government in lmo, sees every development in the state as an opportunity to fight, not knowing that diplomacy is more result oriented than war.
Now that we have officially denied demolishing any petrol station, we are going to wait to be contradicted.
Sam Onwuemeodo.
Special Adviser on media to the former governor of lmo State and Senator representing lmo West Senatorial District.
