Abdulai Wadudu, the branch manager of Fumbisi Nangami Fuel Filling Station in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region, was subjected to physical assault by the District Chief Executive (DCE), Daniel Kwame Gariba.
Mr. Wadudu was allegedly kicked multiple times by Mr. Gariba for requesting payment before allowing him to lift fuel.
It took the intervention of some bystanders to save the situation with the DCE warning Wadudu not to ever ask him money again whenever he comes around to refill his car.
Information indicates that the Builsa South District Assembly had an agreement with the Nangami Fuel Filling Station to lift fuel on credit. They are to make some payments when the credit reaches a certain threshold.
However, the Assembly has since reneged on the contract terms but still continues to lift fuel with the assurance that they will soon pay their debt.
Having failed to honour their word, the fuel filling station being managed by Wadudu was left with no choice than to cut ties with the Assembly and save them from incurring more debt that would have devastating effect on their operations.
The DCE, unaware of the stance taken by the Nangami Filling Station Manager, had gone to the station on Saturday, October 21, 2023, to refuel his car. However, Wadudu boldly told him that he was unable to let him refuel his car because the Assembly is owing the station so much money.
This infuriated the DCE and he began exchanging words with the pump attendant. When tempers flared up, the DCE could not hold it anymore, got down from his car and walked straight to Wadudu and began subjecting him to multiple kicks.
Wadudu had, allegedly wanted to fight back, but was prevented from doing so by some bystanders who rushed to the scene to save the situation from escalating.
Wadudu then reported the incident to his regional manager for him to take the matter up.
When the Builsa South DCE was contacted, he claimed, “It’s not true I had altercation with a fuel attendant let alone kicking him. At least a report would have been made to the police and I would have by now been invited. It’s a figment of someone’s imagination bent on smearing my image for political reasons. I have heard and asked the young man involved, and he denies having knowledge of such”.
However, when Wadudu was contacted, he confirmed the incident but refused to give further details.
“My brother, we are all human beings, and sometimes things happen, but we have resolved it long ago. So, we should let sleeping dogs lie. The issue happened some days ago, and I don’t have any problem with the DCE anymore,” noted Wadudu.