Oil Pipeline Contract: Enough of your ignorance, Eradiri tells Niger Delta agitators
By Emmanuel Adigwe
A former leader of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has cautioned the Arewa and other sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region protesting against the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to freedom fighter, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo.
GbaramatuVoice had earlier reported that the Federal Government has renewed a multi-million dollar pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo. This development has sparked reactions as many persons were of the view that the Ijaw leader shouldn’t have gotten the contract.
ALSO READ: GbaramatuVoice has done well in telling the Niger Delta Story – Prof. Harriman
Groups like Arewa and others openly protested against the development.
Reacting, Erabiri, a former commissioner of Environment in Balyesa, who is presently a special aide to the Interim Administrator, NDDC, Dr. Effiong Awka, while delivering his speech at the 7th anniversary of the popular Niger-Delta news newspaper, GbaramatuVoice, stated that the Federal Government did the right thing by giving Tompolo the contract.
According to Eradiri, Tompolo has the needed capacity to execute the project as there is a process that the federal government followed before issuing Tompolo the contract and those agitating against the contract are being “ignorant”.
He said: “I see it as Ignorance. Ignorance of the highest order. They are five contractors who bidded according to the Nigerian procurement process and Tompolo won the the award for the contract.
“Tompolo in his usual community development style decided to call his people to together to see how to end oil theft and bunkering in the area because of the harmful environmental effect. He followed a procedure. For me, the agitations is just a show of ignorance.
The Ijaw youth activist and politician further used the medium to task all Niger Deltans for their support to aid the work of Tompolo.
He also used applauded GbaramatuVoice for telling the Niger Delta story from an Insider’s perspective and he urged the medium not to relent on its oars in educating and informing the world concerning the happenings of the oil-producing communities.
Eradiri also tasked the media generally to be wary of reporting news concerning the Niger-Delta in a sensational manner as negative news have the potential of chasing prospective investors away.
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
