IPMAN’s Housing Projects Are Credible – Okoronkwo

In an interview with leadershipng correspondent, the factional president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, gives a detailed background into the association’s lingering leadership crisis. He also cleared the air on allegations surrounding its proposed housing scheme. Read excerpts below:

There is also an allegation that your housing scheme is fraudulent?

When we came on board, we saw the need to look into the housing of our members. Many of our members, more than 500 of them, flood this city for business purposes but they all sleep in hotels. We felt that even if it is a bedroom we must erect for our members, working with builders who have sent in their bids. The payment for these houses can be spread over time; they belong to members of our association, not some estate firm somewhere.

It is not my scheme. What we have done is to negotiate for a competitive price for our members. We have the support of members on this and it is not binding on anyone. It is only for those willing to get involved. We even have financiers who are working with us.

How do you react to the fact that Lawson Obasi is government recognised IPMAN president?

That is the deceit of the year. As a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, how do you select your leaders, is it by election or recognition? He can call himself president but whose president is he? We have conducted our election in line with our constitution and we have a president – my humble self – so where does he come in? We have been using our constitution since 2011. Why should we jettison it because of one man?