…Says NDA Activities Have Caused Gbaramatu People Too Much Pains
…Laments Desecration of Egbesu Deity
By Francis Sadhere
Ex-MEND leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo) has once again called on the Niger Delta Avengers to lay down their arms and embrace the federal government dialogue option, adding that their activities have caused a lot of pains to the people of Gbaramatu kingdom.
While reiterating that he has no links with the NDA, Tompolo in a statement made available to our correspondent, lamented the way and manner the Nigerian army have desecrated traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu kingdom, saying that it was a clear indication of oppression and intimidation of the peace loving people of the region all in the guise of looking for NDA and himself.
He said, “I have not heard and seen in any part of Nigeria, even the most volatile North Eastern part of Nigeria,where Boko Haram has been killing innocent people, the way and manner the Military desecrated the traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu Kingdom. This is a clear oppression and intimidation of the peace loving people of Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
Part of the statement reads: “I wish to once again write the members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace the Federal Government dialogue option as a way out of the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta region. As I have said before now, I do not know you and how to reach you except through the mass media, therefore it is high time you stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
“One thing you guys may not be aware of is that, you have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in given birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now.
“As for the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, they have not known peace since you guys started the bombing of oil facilities as they have been harassed, intimidated, violated and invaded on daily bases by the Nigerian Military under the guise of looking for members of your group (Niger Delta Avengers) and my humble self, who they have criminally and wickedly linked to the Niger Delta Avengers.
“Presently all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been deserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles. Even till now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion.
“Another dangerous dimension my traducers have introduced into this issue is the allegation that some of my closest men are coordinators of the Niger Delta Avengers. And this is currently trending in the social media, specifically in the niaja.com platform, that Benji Ekeremor, Super and Owomor aka VIP are the coordinators of the Avengers.
“The truth of the matter is that I can no longer endure these blackmails from my traducers, as I have seen that they are not resting in their oars, as they have vowed to implicate me by all means necessary. God forbid! To set the records straight, these are responsible men who had had skilled training under the Presidential Amnesty programme that are currently using their acquired skills to eke out a living. And so the allegation that they are the coordinators of various axes of the Avengers is a malicious and mischievous one.
“On a final note, I wish to reiterate that you guys must stop the bombing and destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region now and embrace the dialogue option from the Federal Government as it is (dialogue) the only pragmatic means in resolving a crisis no matter huge and complicated such crisis is. And I believe fervently that the Government is serious and willing to end this re-occurring crisis in the Niger Delta region. Enough is
