Ijaw groups vow to support Tompolo
Niger Delta groups vow to stand
by Tompolo
The
groups claim Tompolo Is being prosecuted because he’s a member of the PDP
Tompolo
has been in hiding since a court ordered his arrest
The face-off
between security operatives and ijaw communities seems to have taken a new turn
as a group; Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) has vowed to stand with
Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
Tompolo
has been in hiding since a court ordered that he be arrested. The order has
sparked bombing of pipelines in the Niger Delta region by suspected militants
who are loyal to the ex-militant.
Security
operatives have been deployed to the region and the Joint Task Force has vowed
to hold the community leaders accountable for any vandalism in the region. The
federal government has also ordered the communities to produce Tompolo and
other suspected vandals.
Vanguard
reports that in a joint statement issued by Niger Delta Security Watch
Organisation of Nigeria and IPDI and signed by their leaders, Dickson
Bekederemo and Austin Ozobo, the groups said that although they support the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, they were solidly behind Tompolo
and would not sacrifice him.
“The
people of Niger Delta and the ljaw in particular are not at war with President
Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. However, the ljaw will never sacrifice their
bravest to satisfy the quest for neo-colonialism. When the moment comes, we
shall stand with Tompolo.
“We
believe that what the Federal Government wants to do is a repeat of what the
Russians did to Poland during World War II, kill the bravest of their braves,
the rest is history. We wish to inform President Buhari that in the hearts and
minds of every Niger Deltan lies an embryonic Tompolo waiting to hatch.
“We call
on President Buhari not to be deceived by a few pipelines surveillance contract
seekers. There was Judea, yet Christ resurrected from the dead. There were
traitors, yet Allah protected Prophet Mohammed in the cave with a cob web when
people led his enemies to capture him.
“It may interest you to know that Tompolo is a
strong member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, even in defeat. Unlike some
elements of the party from our region that are bread and butter members.
Tompolo alleged that the APC- led government persuaded him to decamp to its fold.
The party until date, did not refute his assertion.
“Suddenly,
the EFCC froze the bank account of Global West Vessels Limited. The management
of the company initiated an action against EFCC in court. The agency bluntly
refused to file a defence, only for the agency to file charges against him in
another Federal High Court.
“The
question we will like to ask is: Is Tompolo the chief executive or the Managing
Director of Global West Vessels Limited? Assuming, for the purpose of argument,
that Global Vessels Limited committed financial crime, is Tompolo the alter ego
of the company? The EFCC invitation and subsequent harassment and persecution
of Tompolo goes beyond what meets the eye.”
In a related development, Ijaw elders said that they cannot hand over Tompolo to the federal
government because they
don’t know where he is.
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