TOMPOLO: Egbesu Brotherhood fires back at Arewa Youth Assembly
…says Tompolo is the peace keeper of Niger Delta waterways
Ijaw socio-cultural group, the Egbesu Brotherhood has reacted to the statement by the northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa Youths Assembly asking the Federal Government not to award a contract for oil pipelines surveillance to Niger Delta freedom fighter, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, better known as Government Tompolo.
GbaramatuVoice writes that Arewa group made this known in a statement by its leader, Abdulsalam Mohammed-Kazeem, in Kaduna as they accused the Niger-Delta freedom fighter of being disrespectful to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Arewa in the statement had said, “Information at the disposal of the Arewa Youth Assembly is that the NNPC limited under the leadership of Mallam Mpele Kolo Kyari and the Federal Government is planning to assign the job of pipelines surveillance to an enemy of the state, a militant, a renowned pipeline vandaliser, Oweizide Ekpemupolo popularly known as Government Tompolo.
“As youths of this region who have been keen observers of governance as it affects the citizens and the nation in general, we will not fold our hands and watch the government make such a grave mistake of awarding a sensible contract of this nature to him.
“We therefore as a matter of national urgency advice, beg, call and plead with the NNPC LTD to save our national asset by not awarding it to Tompolo, as the effect will be deleterious to the nation’s economy.”
Reacting, Egbesu Brotherhood in a statement issued to GbaramatuVoice by Comrade Ellington Bakumor, the deputy leader, stated that the statement issued by the group “does not make sense” describing the report as a “sentimental” publication.
The statement read: “We woke up to the news of some unscrupulous group calling on the Federal Government not to award pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo, I took out time to go through the sentimental press release and found that it was based on unfounded accusations and does not even make sense. I believe our respected president is well abreast with security reports around the nation and he is also in the know of Tompolo’s contribution to the Peace and security that the Niger Delta region has enjoyed throughout his regime, the Niger delta has been the most stable and peaceful region in recent times and the president knows the effort of these leaders, Tompolo in particular has contributed immensely to this.
“So the accusations of this group that is clearly sponsored by unfriendly elements and conflict merchants who survive by causing conflict and commotion in the region and who only seek to cause more mayhem holds no water.
“We want to thank Mr president for his Proactive steps in ensuring there’s more peace in the Niger delta water ways by considering Tompolo and extending a hand of fellowship and friendship to him, as he has selflessly been the peace keeper of the waterways and the Niger Delta in general, we urge him to ignore calls from mischief makers as their motive is to lead the region into another round of restiveness and chaos.
By Ebi Perekeme
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