.accept Tompolo’s decision, shelve planned attacks on oil installations
ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
A coalition of militants in the Niger Delta have thrown their weight behind the decision of former Niger Delta warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, to call off the ultimatum given to Federal Government to set up a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The militants’ coalition, led by the Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters (SEFF), also said that in the same spirit, they had called off their planned attacks on oil installations and facilities in the region.
In an electronic statement on Monday by the Commander, SEFF, ‘Major General’ Agadaga Obus, alias Thunder, the militants said they accepted Tompolo’s decision after a stakeholder meeting at Oporoza in Delta State because of his years of integrity, steadfastness, courage and the dogged spirit for standing with the oppressed, neglected and dejected people of the region.
They said the decision to halt planned attacks on oil installations did not preclude the directive to all strike forces’ units and unit commanders to be on standby in case the Federal Government failed to fulfill their part of the agreement reached the stakeholders’ meeting with the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The statement read: “After due consultations and pleas from well-meaning stakeholders including traditional rulers and the intervention of the President, Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, we have decided to accept the decision of revered Tompolo and stepped down the planned attacks to bring down all oil flow stations and crude oil production to zero.
“We are, however, on the red alert through our strike forces and unit commanders and we are standing with the President of the Ijaw Youths Council, Peter Igbifa.
“But for now, all actions have been stepped down but all our strike forces are still placed on red alert at most strategic locations until we see the needed result as promised by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, during the agreement reached with the various stakeholders including a delegation of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, the INC leadership, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
“We commend Tompolo for his steadfastness and his sincerity at all times without disappointing the people and for speaking out and staking his life despite threats. We want to say, you (Tompolo) have done well and you have become our second Ijaw National Hero after Jasper Adaka Boro.
“And we want to state categorically that the reason Akpabio became inconsistent in talks and actions was because men like Tompolo, King Ateke Tom and others were initially silent to give him chance to redeem himself.”