November 9, 2024

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N/Delta Agitators Seek Justice For Tompolo

3 min read

A group in the Niger Delta region known as the 21st century youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience has expressed great dismay on what they described as grave injustice meted against a renowned leader in the Ijaw Nation, Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The group is calling for the immediate quashing of what they described as politically motivated corruption charges against Tompolo, immediate release of his property, unfreezing of his accounts and an unequivocal apology rendered to his family.
This was contained in a release made available to TNN by the leader of the group, General Izon Ebi. According to him, “we the 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience condemn this selfish unpatriotic and ungodly act by one of our own. It is so strange, shameful that nobody is talking about the injustice meted to the family of government Oweizide Ekpemupolo and father.
“A leader is meant to be a role model, selfless, truthful, disciplined and render selfless service to humanity by upholding his dignity, striving to attain divinity. His primary concerns and what gives him concern is the peace, joy and harmony of his people.
“But in the Niger Delta and Nigeria in particular, the reverse is the contrary, mostly in the Niger Delta, we have leaders with animalistic tendencies who do not care about the people but are only concerned with their ambitions and aspirations, playing politics with the wellbeing, peace and development of the Niger Delta region.
“How do you explain one of our highly respected leaders that sees himself as the encyclopedia of knowledge recommending the scrapping of the Maritime University Akerenkoko turn around to establish a Transport University in Mr President’s home town?
“We thought it is noble for us to bring this issue into the front burner because if a man sees evil and closes his eyes and mouth and pretends not to see, the man dies in him.”
The group in the release called on the Minister of Petroleum for State, Chief Timipre Sylva and the new governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri to intervene in the issue, and ensure justice for the Ijaw leader, Tompolo.
“That is why we the 21st century youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience take it as a burden to call on the honourable minister of petroleum for state, His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva and the governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Douye Diri to take these issues and injustice meted on Tompolo to the presidency and ensure that justice is done to right the wrong since the silence in the Ijaw nation is seen as if nothing happened whereas a grave injustice is meted on one of our most illustrious, loved and respected leader, government Oweizidei Tompolo. It is sacrilegious and condemnable.”
It also frowned at the state of the IYC which it said should be speaking on behalf of the Ijaw Youths. According to the group, “the IYC that is supposed to speak on behalf of the Ijaw youths and the Ijaw nation is in disarray, factionalized because of selfishness and self aggrandizement. The INC is moribund because of selfishness and greed.
“Our leaders are not talking or seeing anything wrong because of political affiliations. We therefore use this medium to commend the leaders of the south west for standing for one of their own Sowore, the organiser of the revolution now protests and their resolve to form Amotekun a security outfit for the protection, security and wellbeing of their people which is worth commending.
“We want to use this medium to call on all our royal fathers to liaise with the honourable minister of petroleum and the newly elected governor of Bayelsa State to ensure that Tompolo is quashed of all politically motivated corruption charges, the immediate release of his property, unfreezing of his accounts and an unequivocal apology rendered to the family of Government Ekpemupolo for the brutality and hostility meted out on one of our highly respected father and chief, Chief Ekpemupolo. We cannot imagine the sin committed by Government Oweizidei Tompolo.
“He was the one who initiated the establishment of the Maritime University in his own Gbaramatu kingdom that is meant to educate and empower the youths with skill to have a sustainable livelihood thereby discouraging militancy, criminality and other social vices. We cannot allow this grave injustice to stand because nobody can silence and pocket the Ijaw nation,” it added.

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