Preparations are at top gear to mark the 46th birthday of High Chief Govermemt Oweizide Ekpemepolo alias Tompolo, as official T-shirt for the event was unveiled yesterday 31st March, 2017 in Warri by Chief God’spower Gbenekama, the Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu kingdom.
The event scheduled to commence 12th April, 2017 with an inaugural lecture, with the theme , ‘THE NIGER DELTA QUESTION’ is expected to be fathered by a foremost Ijaw national leader, Chief Dr. Edwin Clark, while Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, and his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro are expected to be special guests of honour. Prof. Tosan Harriman, professor of Comparative Dialectics and Director, Centre for the Advancement of Democratic and Peoples Right Bayero University, Kano is expected to be the guest speaker, as dignitaries are expected from all works of Life, particularly from the South South region.
While unveiling the branded T-Shirt for the special occasion, Chief God’spower Gbenekama described Tompolo as focused, and a man dedicated to the service of his people that worth celebrating even in absential.
According to him, Tompolo came into lives of many people of the Niger Delta when there was nothing; when many were hopeless, adding that Tompolo’s emergence has brought hope to the hopeless in the region.
“We were hopeless but he came in and gave us hope in the Niger Delta. He gave us focus as to the struggle of resource control and he made us to understand that it is better to develop your own local community than to develop places that the government is focusing on because as it were, the federal, state, and even the local government are focusing on already developed areas” Chief Gbenekama said.
He called on all particularly those from the Niger Delta who are harming and working for Tompolo’s downfall to desist from that, saying such acts would not help the Niger Delta, as he recounted how Isaac Adaka Boro fought but was not rally round by his people, and how the enemy could plucked him away; how Ken Saro Wiwa too suffered the same fate, stressing that Tompolo’s case must be different.
Said he, “first it was Isaac Adaka Boro, he fought and I believe our people didn’t rally round him, that was why the enemies were able to pluck him away from the Niger Delta people. Ken Saro Wiwa, it was the same thing. His own people instigated the government to do what the government did.
“Today, it is the turn of Tompolo. I want to tell every Niger Deltan, harming Tompolo won’t help the Niger Delta; telling the whole world that Tompolo must die, won’t help the Niger Delta”
Chief Gbenekama who described Tompolo as a legend leader worth emulation also called for united Niger Delta, asserting that handwriting of a united Niger Delta he was already reading on the wall.
The Ibe-benemowei Gbaramatu kingdom said the leadership role given to Tompolo was not fight for or bought over but was commanded by his contributions to his people and his laudable achievements.
“Leaders are born leaders. So you don’t fight to become a leader, it is people that make you a leader because of your achievements and antecedents” He added.
While asked question on when Tompolo is going to be back, Chief Gbenekama said as spokesperson of Gbaramatu kingdom, he believes Tompolo was going to be back very soon.
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