By Bulou Kosin, Warri
Former militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo recently made a public appearance from the creeks after over a decade. His moves sent tongues wagging in a babel of opinions. Keen observers however see Tompolo ringing true as the Ijaw, nay Niger Delta leader and former war lord from Gbaramatu Kingdom that has morphed to a political marksman. Such ones apparently read aright his steps, telling that Tompolo was clearing the fog over his avowed commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election come 2027!
His first port of call was Osadebey House, Asaba, seat of Delta State Government. He honoured invitation as Chief Launcher of the Delta State Security Trust Fund instituted by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori now leader of his new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking through the ebullient Managing Director of his oil facilities surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Chief Kestin Pondi, Tompolo declared: “We will start by donating N10billion”. The donation sent ripples through the hall! But the words “start by donating…” in the content of the rendition, it was hushed, promises more!
This writer sought quick views on Tompolo’s N10billion donation to the security fund. While many said the amount was misplaced priority as same could have empowered Ijaw in diverse ways, others argued that such perceptions unfairly deprive Tompolo of the detribalised reach of his philanthropy long flowing across the Niger Delta and beyond. The declaration, some insisted, signposts Tompolo’s belief that development and welfare, coming from Governor Oborevwori’s “more agenda” and President Tinubu’s “renewed hope agenda” presupposes a secure environment. Political watchers say the donation reflects his passion for a secure environment, which he believes will facilitate the massive votes he has vowed to garner for President Tinubu in 2027. They say Tompolo, “an advocate of democracy, believes in the axiom reeled out by George Bush in 2005: “The essence of democracy is the participation of the people”. Massive participation in the democratic process, they maintain, is a function of the secure environment that Tompolo seeks.
Checks reveal that the trumpeted N10billion donation is not Tompolo’s first commitment to peace and security in Delta State where he hails from. When Tompolo was declared wanted in 2009 by the Nigeria’s military Joint Task Force (JTF), Chief Bello Oboko, President of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities, FNDIC, was reported to have retorted: “Tompolo is a peace and security advocate and cannot be said to be a public enemy. His security structure was relied upon by the Delta State Waterways Security under then Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, to rid the waterways of criminals”. Oboko added: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) also relied on Tompolo’s security structure to rescue their staff, Nelson Ujeyah, kidnapped around Letugbene in Bayelsa State. Tompolo’s men successfully rescued Ujeyah before volleys from JTF’s guns silenced Ujeyah and some of hid men in a mistaken identity”. The implication of the foregoing fact suggests Tompolo may have then also spent a larger amount beyond N10billion in securing, for years, the waterways of the Niger Delta, especially Delta State!
The transformation of the 2027 Presidential re-election bid of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Tompolo’s kinsman, from rumours to seeming reality tested his loyalty. Tompolo’s subsequent visit to Dr Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, is said to be as much a security harmony across the Niger Delta as it is a clearing of fog of uncertainty over his given support for President Tinubu in 2027. The former President’s public statement on their meeting, acknowledged Tompolo as a young man committed to peace in the Niger Delta. Reports after the visit that Jonathan was under pressure from Tompolo to drop his ambition to return to Aso Rock in 2027 may have revealed greater reason for the visit: Tompolo’s irrevocable support for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Tompolo’s dilemma was palpable. President Goodluck Jonathan is not only fellow Ijaw, the former President was Tompolo’s Benefactor, now in contention for re-election 2027. But Tompolo had vowed to raise 10 million votes for President Bola Tinubu as Grand Patron for the Door to Door Movement for Tinubu, before his kinsman, former President Jonathan confirmed interest in the race for 2027. A volte face was unthinkable for Tompolo. He has crossed the Rubicon! Or, as they say, Tompolo has put his hands on the plough of Tinubu’s re-election, and there was no turning back! This people said explains Tomolo’s real mission to Otuoke to make the former President understand his irrevocable support for President Tinubu’s 2027 bid. Indeed, Tompolo’s triumphal entry into Ijaw House in Yenagoa carried the symbolism of loyalty to the Ijaw nation and loyalty to the meaning of Ijaw which is truth or sincerity.
Just when Tompolo thought he has cleared the fog of public uncertainty on his support for President Tinubu, false claims in social media challenged his loyalty to President Tinubu’s re-election bid. He was alleged to have issued a 21-day ultimatum to President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the reportedly proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB facing trial in court. Dr Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s media consultant was blunt in his denial, stating: “The attention of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw nation and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has been drawn to the above subject matter, which is trending in some social media platforms.
“We wish to state unequivocally and unambiguously that Tompolo did not author the said publication. High Chief Ekpemupolo has nothing to do with the issue of Nnamdi Kanu. It is clearly the hand work of Tompolo’s enemies who are out to discredit and pull him down because of his stand against illegal crude activities in the Niger Delta region.
“These set of people has failed and will continue to fail because he will not relent in carrying out his duty to totally eradicate illegal oil activities in the region.
“We wish to reassure the Federal Government, led by our dynamic President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that Tompolo is with him and will continue to support the renewed hope agenda of his government. We wish to add that Tompolo remains firm and re-affirms his endorsement of Mr President for second term and continues to work for its realisation”.
Tompolo has since retired back to the creeks, leaving no one in doubt that he is staying focused on President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027!