A group known as Niger Delta Concerned Stakeholders for Accountable Security and Progress (NDCSASP) has described the recent verbal attacks on former militant, Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo as inordinate quest by some individuals to secure surveillance contracts.
Tompolo who is the chairman of the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has come under severe verbal attacks by some individuals in the Niger Delta region with allegations of tyranny, unlawful imprisonment, oppression and murder against him.
A statement by Enisuo Oruomoni, convener of NDCSASP accused one of the Tompolo’s critics identified as Apostle Ezekiel Daniel from Egbema community of fanning embers of acrimony and ensmearing the reputation of the former freedom fighter because he failed to secure surveillance contracts.
Referring to a recent statement credited to Ezekiel which stated “Give the contract to Egbema 1 and others. Tompolo must stay out of Egbema territory,” the group said the above statement only betrayed the burning jealousy behind the attacks on Tompolo.
“That is the real motive. The allegations of kidnapping, private prison, Apostle Ezekiel’s tribal bigotry; all of it was just cover to get the contract.
“The greedy bunkering syndicates and their sponsors have started unmasking themselves one by one,” the group stated.
Continuing, the group said “We have read with disgust the latest sponsored statement demanding that pipeline surveillance contracts be decentralized and given to Egbema 1.
“This is why they are accusing High Chief Dr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo of “invasion, oppression, and tyranny.” This is the truth they are hiding.”
On the claim that Egbema community could hand its security, the group said “Security is not tribal. Pipelines cross Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Egbema, Ilaje. Crude theft happens offshore, not only in Egbema.
“You cannot secure a national asset with kingdom contracts. That is how we got to 900,000 barrels per day in 2022. Since centralized surveillance started, production is near 1.8mbpd. That is why they are angry. Their bunkering is finished.
The group also denied the allegation that Tompolo and his men invaded Egbema community.
“Apostle Ezekiel, if there was invasion, abduction, and private prison in Egbema, where is the report to Delta Police Command? Where is the report to DSS Asaba?
“You cannot invade a kingdom for years and the King, Council of Chiefs, LGA Chairman, and DSS will be quiet
“Name the date. Name the victims. Name the facility. Or apologize to Egbema people for using their name to chase contract,” the group declared.
Probing further, the group said “This is classic divide and rule. Mention Ijaw names to make it look like internal matter”.
“If Kari was discarded after illicit assignments, let him go to court. If Super Ebilade committed crime, let DSS arrest him. But using their names to blackmail for contract is wickedness.”
On the accusation of tyranny and greed against the Tantita chairman, the group noted “the real face of greed is a man who wants oil money to return to kingdom boys and camps. The real face of tyranny is a man who wants to use “Apostle” title to lie and incite youths to violence.
“High Chief Dr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo donated gunboats to the Military. He is working with NSA and NNPC. That is service, not tyranny,” it explained.
NDCSASP also condemned the call on president Bola Tinubu to decentralise the surveillance contracts, describing it as unpatriotic.
“Mr. President knows what works. Decentralization means 50 camps, 50 boys, 50 guns. That was the past. Centralized surveillance with local content means Joshua MacIver of Olugbobiri in Bayelsa and Egbema youths employed under Tantita are working. That is the model,” it added.
It advised Egbema community to not allow one man to use the kingdom’s name to cause crisis, noting that the community’s sons were already employed in the current architecture.
It called on the DSS, Police, NSA to investigate activities of Ezekiel for alleged incitement, false claims, and attempt to sabotage national security.
The group called on Tinubu to ignore blackmail, stating that the current model was working and oil production increasing, theft reduced drastically and jobs created.
“This is not about Egbema. This is not about oppression. This is about contracts. The gravy train has ended, so now they want to hijack the train. Bayelsa and Delta say no to returning to camps. No to tribal war. No to bunkering.
“We choose gunboats over gun boys. We choose Nigeria over greed. Show us the invasion video. In 2026 every phone has camera. Where is it?,” the group queried.
The group pointed out that the demand for contracts decentralisation came two weeks after gunboats donation and Tinubu’s campaign, urging the youths not to be deceived.
“They collected millions as leaders and “generals” and gave their boys 30k out of 65k. Some deducted camp dues, feeding security levy. The boys suffered. Today, those same men want to return us to Egypt because their personal ATM has closed.
“Greed has beclouded their brain. Jealousy has eaten their sense.
The greedy, perfidious personalities unmasking themselves now are the same leaders of the dark days.
“The could not pay their boys the full 65k Amnesty stipend but were deducting 15k, 20k, 25k every month and collected millions as “leaders” for doing nothing. No training. No skill. No project. Just sitting in camp,” it stressed.
The group asserted that some individuals were disgruntled because Tompolo through centralized surveillance and the donation of gunboats to the military, had blocked bunkering and brought jobs to the youths, noting that there had been no more deductions workers’ salaries under the decentralised arrangement.
“Today they are using “Egbema”, “Itsekiri”, “Human Rights”, “Apostle” to vilify the very hand that is feeding Niger Delta youths.
“They are not fighting Tompolo. They are fighting the system that stopped their theft. They are not fighting for Egbema. They are fighting for their pocket. Greediness is a disease. It makes a man bite the hand that feeds his own people.
“Brothers, remember the dark days. Remember queueing for 40k while “leader” bought new houses. Remember when our rivers were black and our future was black.
“Do not allow these greedy men to use tribal bigotry and oppression to drag you back to camp. We have jobs now. We have peace now. We have dignity now.
That is what they want to destroy.
“How much amnesty money did you deduct from your boys 2010-2015? Bring the account.” How many of your boys are employed today under the current system? Answer: Many. Why did you wait until gunboats came before you remembered ‘oppression’?
“If they cannot answer, then Nigerians should know. This is about contract, not conscience. President Tinubu, Do not return Nigeria to decentralized camps. It failed before. We will not allow greed and jealousy to set the Niger Delta on fire again. The era of deducting from boys is over,” the group concluded.
