Pipeline Surveillance Contract: Over 40,000 Persons Visit Tompolo

Over 40,000 people made up of individual visitors and persons in delegations, have in the past three weeks visited Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, at his base in Oporoza, in Gbaramatu Kingdom Delta State. The ex-militant and leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has been playing host to persons and groups, who have either visited in solidarity with the respected activist or, been there on a quest for further information about the N48billion oil pipeline protection contract, which has generated measured division in the Niger Delta, especially among armed Ijaw groups in Rivers State.
National Point was in Oporoza Tuesday, September 6, 2022 and observed a seemingly unending flow of visitors including members of the Ijaw Youth Council from zones including East, West, Central and Lagos. There were activists under the IYC Elders Forum a.k.a Oporoza House and an Itsekiri youth group among others. A glance at a register of visitors indicate that well over 40,000 individuals had paid visit to the former militant leader. Among the visitors were professional groups and ethnic nationality associations.
Speaking during the visit, the delegation of IYC Elders, in an address by the leader, Elder Timi Kaiser Wilhem Ogoriba explained that the group was on both a fact finding and solidarity visit with the ex-militant, who is fondly referred to as the ‘GOC’.
The group is made up of veteran activists who had been involved in efforts in the late 1990’s that led to the formulation and release of the 1998 Ijaw youth document of Demands to the Nigerian state, on self determination, environmental protection, the Kaiama Declaration. Among the group were two past presidents of the IYC Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Dr. Chris Ekiyor. Another group was led by Eric Omare, a lawyer and one time IYC president.
The IYC Elders expressed concern over the vituperation that have attended the announcement of the contract given to a company in which Ekpemupolo has interests. According to Ogoriba, ‘We are very concerned that this contract awarded to our brother has generated so much talk and division among some of our people especially in the Eastern zone. We decided to come to see you and hear from you what the issue is. We are aware that some other companies headed by persons from other ethnic groups were also awarded surveillance contracts without anyone raising any issues’.
Tompolo expressed joy over the visit by the group with whom he has worked in the past decades on Ijaw and Niger Delta self determination and development issues. Noting that he had absolutely no issues with anyone, he reiterated his concern to pursue an end to the practice of kpofire (artisanal refineries), ensure the protection of the environment and empowerment of community persons including women and the elderly in the communities where the pipelines are located. Forty percent of the value of the contract has been allocated to women.
The contract will focus chiefly on environmental protection according to Tompolo noting that, “We have to do everything within our powers to protect our environment. We don’t have any other country than Nigeria. My plan for the Niger Delta is to carry everybody along.”
The Ijaw Elders outlined a plan to visit persons who have expressed any concern about being left out, as a peace buiding process.