Members of Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers at the Port Harcourt Refinery Depot have called for the immediate removal of the Refinery Coordinator, Bayo Aderenle.
In a statement issued by the group on Saturday in Port Harcourt, it alleged that the coordinator is working against the smooth operations of the refinery.
“We are compelled to expose the sinister actions of Bayo Aderenle, the refinery coordinator, who is acting as an agent of a private refinery seeking to gain monopoly over Nigeria’s refining sector.
“His actions are deliberately designed to cripple the Port Harcourt Refinery, denying it crude oil and shutting it down.
“As we speak, the old Port Harcourt Refinery has initiated the process of shutting down on the directives of Bayo, in a blatant attempt to give market dominance to a private refinery he fronts.
“This sabotage will inevitably lead to increased fuel prices in Nigeria, further exacerbating the economic hardship faced by our people.
“We hold Aderenle directly responsible for this impending crisis, as his actions are driven by selfish interests rather than the nation’s economic well-being,” the statement stated.
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The statement which was signed by High Chief Sunny Nkpe, Comrade Emmanuel Inimgba, Joseph Obele, Pastor Tekena Ikpaiki, and Dickson Obelley, further accused Aderenle of consistent disregard for the rights and interests of the host communities.
“The actions of Bayo has hindered the completion of the CRU of the old refinery plant , and he’s activities is slowing down efforts to make area 1,2,3 plants of the new refinery fully operational.
“We fear that the planed shutdown will also lead to the disengagement of our sons and daughters who are currently working at the refinery,” the group said.
They said as critical stakeholders in the refinery, “we will not fold our arms and allow this refinery rot away after the government efforts to revive it.
“We will resist, with all vigor through all available legal means Aderenle’s push against the functionality of the refinery. We will not stand idly by while he prioritizes private interests over the welfare of Nigerians.”
The group called for the immediate appointment of a substantive managing director for the refinery to facilitate the ongoing rehabilitation of the plant.
