Edith CHUKU
Recognizing his contributions to pipeline security and the protection of hydrocarbon infrastructure in the Niger Delta, a Niger Delta youth group has called on the U.S Congress, the international community and general public to disregard what they describe as a smear campaign against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The group, 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (CYNDAC), stated this on Wednesday, while condemning the recent protest against Tompolo and Tantita Security Services, which they described as misleading.
Leader of the group, Mr. Izon Ebi, described the protest as disgraceful, shameful and a malicious propaganda filled with falsehood.
According to 21st CYNDAC, the campaign against Tompolo is an attempt to discredit his commendable efforts in maintaining security and stability in the oil-rich region, adding that Tompolo is genuinely committed to peace and progress in the Niger Delta.
His words, “the shameful macabre dance of reformed oil thieves and their co travellers in front of the US Congress is so unfortunate and shameful. It is so unfortunate, disheartening and idiotic to hoodwink the US Congress and International communities with an insensitive and idiotic caption of protest against Tantita security services, Tompolo, Mathew Tonlagha, chief Dennis Otuaro, Joshua Machaver and Chief kestin pondei MD Tantita Security Services.
“In very strong terms, the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC) condemns the shameful and malicious coordinated campaign of calumny and dance of shame in front of the US Congress in the name of protest against distinguished personalities and highly resourceful and respected leader, a father in the Niger Delta struggle and Niger Delta region high Chief Oweizidei Government Ekpemupolo Alias (Tompolo).
“Over the years, the hydrocarbon resources of the Niger Delta has been under coordinated attacks and pillage by non state actors causing decline in product delivery, this abnormally brought the production capacity of crude oil to about 1.3m barrels per day before the advent of the present administration.
“The pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services put paid to the wanton oil theft that characterized the past. It’s rather unfortunate that instead of applauding this feat, ex beneficiaries of the pillage are jumping from the mainstream media to private podcasts and sponsored protest and propaganda to spew gibberish and trying to distract the government from what has been statistically proven improved crude oil output through the efforts of Tantita security services under the leadership of high Chief Government Oweizidei Ekpemupolo Alias(Tompolo ).”
The group noted that “the impact of Tompolo in the Niger Delta region is not and only limited to the provition of security to our pipeline and protection of the nations critical hydrocarbon infrastructures but has gone further to , Building of communities with modern infrastructure, empowering indigent citizens of the Niger Delta through employment, scholarship to students, grants to small and medium scale entrepreneur and various skill acquisition programs both in country and abroad.
“We can boldly claim that their production has increased, the environment and pipelines in the Delta has been safer under the watch of high Chief Tompolo and Tantita Security Services, this can be empirically and statistically ascertained.”
Further, the 21st CYNDAC urged the US Congress, international communities and well meaning individuals to “disregard the cries and campaign of calumny by fifth columnists and detractors who feel pained that their brigandage has been cut short by the activities of Tantita security services and their illegal oil bunkering activities has been stopped.
“The new board of the NNPCL has their work cut out for them; to sustain the momentum in the protection of the critical oil infrastructure and improve crude oil output to 2m+ before the end of the year in order to mitigate economic downturn and sustain production to meet our budget benchmark.
“The US Congress and International communities should ignore the merchants of blackmail and propaganda whose gravy train has been permanently stopped. To the shameful ex militant leader from Bayelsa State and his co travellers who sponsored the shameful dance of shame in front of the US Congress in the name of protest circulating in the media, we urge them to desist immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the people of the Niger Delta region to avoid the wrath of the gods and a backlash.
“The campaign of calumny against high Chief Tompolo, Matthew Tonlagha, chief Dennis Otuaro, and chief kestin pondei MD Tantita Security Services is borne out of jealousy, selfishness, avarice and greed by other so called famished ex militants, local warlords and oil thieves.
“The federal government should be circumspect about the activities and actions of these charlatans that don’t have capacity and love for the Niger Delta region and its people for any productive endeavor talk less of providing critical security service to our oil and gas infrastructure.
“The government and people must refuse to be hoodwinked by this detractors to evade what was prevalent before president Bola Tinubu ‘s tenure. The main actors of the shameful protest in front of the US Congress are known stooges of one of the self acclaimed leaders of the Niger Delta struggle that believes in himself for self aggrandizement and showmanship to the detriment of the Niger Delta region and its people.”
