By Francis Sadhere
Ex-Niger Delta warlord, High Chief Government Epkemupolo, alias Tompolo, has denied any involvement in the purported shooting of JAD Nigeria Ltd workers who were carrying out clearing job at the Itsekiri end of the multi billion dollar EPZ site.
Ekpemupolo stated this in a press statement signed by his media aid, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo and made available to our Correspondent in Warri.
According to the statement: ” High chief Ekpemupolo has nothing to do in the EPZ site as he has no contract or job to do in the EPZ site. This can be confirmed from the owners of the project. The only interest he has in the EPZ project is the protection of what rightly belongs to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and that is Gbaramatu deep sea port,which land belongs to the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, and has been so designated by the Federal Government of Nigeria during the grand breaking ceremony on March 26, 2015.”
Ekpemupolo therefore, called on newsmen to desist from using his name in false reports, warning that he will not hesitate to take legal actions against any newspaper house that tries to defame his name.
“It has come to the knowledge of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo on the use of his name on news stories he knows nothing about in recent times. Such journalists are hereby warned to desist from this wicked practice as it will bring them nothing good but evil,” the statement added.
While condemning the reports published in one of the National dailies, (not National Reformer) Comrade Bebenimibo noted that there was no iota of truth in that story.
The statement reads: “It is simply mischievous,frivolous and sensational. He is aware of the evil tendency of some journalists to incite the Itsekiris against him,and also to sell their newspapers. Let such journalists know that he is at peace with the Itsekiri people which was evident in his visit to leaders of the the Itsekiri Nation some time ago.
“It is the desire of High chief Ekpemupolo to continue to work with journalists in this country, as he advocates for a better living condition for them as they are human beings like him. He therefore will not wish them evil,and so they should not wish him evil too. It should be stated clearly that if this pattern of journalism is not stopped forthwith,he will be forced to seek redress in any court of competent jurisdiction for defamation of character.
