By Francis Sadhere
Embattled former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Epkemupolo, alias Tompolo has denied having anything to do with the Niger Delta Avengers.
Tompolo who spoke through his media consultant, Paul Bebenimibo, in a press statement made available to our correspondent in Warri said nobody should take the allegation serious.
Bebenimibo who was also fingered to be among the Avengers by a splinter militant group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, described the allegation as a mistaken identity.
A splitter group of the NDA, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, had named former President Goodluck Jonathan, Tompolo, Bebenimibo, Ann Kio-BriggsKio-Briggs and other prominent individuals as sponsors the Avengers, which have wreaked havoc on the country’s oil production.
Part of the press statement reads, “My attention has been drawn to a news report by Sahara Reporters, that I am one of the operatives of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as alleged by a splinter faction of the NDA, which go by the name, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA).
“In the same report, my boss, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo was also mentioned as one of the sponsors of the NDA.”
Bebenimibo said he decided to write to dissociate his boss and himself from the wicked and malicious report, adding, “my boss (Tompolo) has made it abundantly clear in many occasions that he has nothing to do with the Niger Delta Avengers.”
Continuing he added, “In my own case, I believe it was a mistaken identity as I am still wondering why my name is mentioned among operatives of the NDA, when I have been going about my lawful business over the years.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am a trained media practitioner, media consultant and media scholar of more than ten years. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, Master of Science (MSc) in Mass Communication and currently a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in one of the prestigious Federal Universities in the South East. I am also the Executive Secretary of the Tompolo Foundation. And so which time do I have to be operative of the NDA with all these legitimate things I am doing?
“This allegation is purely nonsensical and baseless and should be quarried by all well meaning Nigerians.”
He therefore wished to advise the Nigerian government to look for better ways to resolve the Niger Delta problem, and not to continue to compound the issue by relaying on voodoo means to resolve the issue.
“If a people, that is the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers have claimed to part ways with the NDA, after destroying almost all the oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, and turn around to claim that they have repented and mentioned some people as sponsors and operatives of the NDA, then the government and people of this country need to know such people (RNDA) and treat them accordingly, and not the responsible Nigerians they mentioned as sponsors and operatives.”
Bebenimibo also threatened to take legal action, saying that some people we’re after his life for what he knows nothing about.
“As it is now, I am going to brief my lawyers to take necessary action on this matter as it seems some people are out there to kill me for what I know nothing about. Presently, I am afraid of my life.
“I want to urge the present administration to be serious with human life as it is the primary duty of any government to provide security for the citizens.
“The use of miscreants to implicate genuine Nigerians is a dangerous trend in this country now, as such people are likely to surfer for what they do not know anything about.
“Therefore the government should investigate some of these claims seriously to avoid miscarriage of judgement.”
