Oghenetejiri Nyerhovwo
Niger Delta Movement For Radical Change (NDMRC), an oil exploration group has berated Chief(Mrs.) Rita-Lori Ogbebor and Alhaji Asari Dokubo for their respective positions on the N4.5 billion monthly pipeline contract awarded by the Federal Government to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo.
The group said both Chief (Mrs.) Ogbebor and Alhaji Dokubo were enemies of the Niger Delta region who were promoting tribal war.
It could be recalled that Chief(Mrs.) Ogbebor had fumed over the multi-billion naira pipeline contract awarded to the former Niger Delta warlord and leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta (MEND), Tompolo, saying that it will lead to anarchy in the region.
In an interview, she insisted that the award of the humongous contract sum to one individual was a clear demonstration of the government abdicating its responsibilities to the people, and lambasted the Federal Government for failing in its responsibility to manage oil resources in Niger Delta and maintaining peace in the country.
Reacting in a statement, Niger Delta Movement For Radical Change (NDMRC) signed by Nelly Emma, President, John Sailor, Secretary and Stanley Mukoro, Public Relations Officer of the group urged Chief(Mrs.) Ogbebor to shun tribal sentiment and promote unity among the people of the region.
The group was of the opinion that it is only those involved in illegal bunkering that would oppose the award of the pipeline contract.
According to the group “for the avoidance of doubt, we want to let Chief (Mrs) Rita-Lori Ogbebor to know that Tompolo has magnanimously sublet the Itsekiri aspect of the pipeline contract to an Itsekiri son, Chief Emami Ayiri in his determination to carry everybody along as far as the pipeline contract is concerned.”
“Chief (Mrs) Rita-Lori Ogbebor is certainly on her own because only recently Itsekiri youths stormed Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta where they declared their support for Tompolo and promised to work with him on the pipeline contract awarded to him by the Federal Government”, they added.
The group expressed confidence that the time is up for “those deeply involved in illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta Region that has destroyed the ecosystem in the area and led to loss of revenue by the Federal Government and it is Tompolo that can help the government to halt the illegal bunkering.”
The group spoke further, “let all those who are making so much money from the illegal oil bunkering and is against the award of the pipeline contract to Tompolo have a quick rethink and accept the reality on the ground that Tompolo has come on a rescue mission as he has all it takes to deliver on this national assignment.”
“NDMRC posited that , “Tompolo is not only a leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom but a respected leader and a man of honour in the entire Niger Delta Region. Tompolo has been given a job and he will not fail because his reputation is at stake.”
The group said that Tompol has helped in securing permanent peace in the region, protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure, eradication of oil bunkering and increased generation of internal revenue, especially in the maritime sector.
They then called on all stakeholders in the region to join forces with Tompoloand, “give him the necessary support and encouragement as far as this pipeline contract is concerned, he is not doing it for himself, but for the love of our beloved country and the people of the Niger Delta region.”
They commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Group Managing Director of the new Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Chief of Defence Staff “for taking this drastic action in ensuring the award of the pipeline contract to Tompolo to put an end to oil theft in the region.The successful execution of the pipeline contract by our hardworking local contractors in the Niger Delta region will lead to an increase in our oil revenue that has nose-dived due to the unwholesome activities of oil bunkering.”
