By Oghenekevwe Laba
Crisis looms in Niger Delta region as coalition of activists, community representatives and youth leaders in oil pipeline communities of Delta State has expressed their opposition to the renewal of oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Ex-Niger Delta militant, Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.
Expressing their opposition to the renewal of the contract in a press statement made available to Urhobotoday via internet by the Convener Comrade Rex Anighoro an Urhobo indigenes said they were opposed to the renewal of the contract because Tompolo executed the expired oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded him in total contempt and disregard to the interest and genuine concerns of oil pipeline communities, activists and youth leaders.
“Secondly, Tompolo had totally showed hostility and disdain to other ethnic nationalities in Delta State like the Urhobo, Ukwuani and Isoko nations in his inequitable distribution of oil pipeline surveillance employment spaces. Despite the myriad of oil pipelines across the nations, Tompolo had grossly short changed these communities doling handouts of pipeline surveillance slots to cronies and proxies from these communities who shared about 350 employment slots out of 5000 employment spaces.
“How can Urhobo, Isoko, Ukwani share a meager 350 job spaces mostly when they have more pipelines in their domain than anywhere else? Sadly these proxies and cronies just like Chief TOM POLO engaged in employing non-existent workers, sharing the proceeds, while leaving the pipelines unprotected.
“Thirdly, we wish to state whatever reason(s) that made Chief Government Ekpemupolo to be qualified for such contract equally makes us qualify ,whether as a Niger Delta activist, freedom fighter, an indigene of oil pipeline community or what so ever criteria. We cannot be excluded, especially those of us who are members of the foremost Niger Delta liberation movement, the Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo Asari’s led Niger Delta People Salvation Front (NDPSF) who are from every ethnic nation in Delta State. Chief Government Ekpemupolo non recognition of this reality is an invitation to anarchy,” the statement jointly signed by the Convener Rex Ekiugbo, Comrade Mark Oliseh Secretary-General, Niger Delta People Salvation Front,NDPSF World wide, Comrade Daniel Ochologor representing Ukwani Nation, Comrade Augustine Osanebi and Comrade Festus Egbo among others explained.
Maintaining that the renewal of fresh oil pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo should be revoked, the statement argued that the oil pipeline surveillance contract recognize their collective interest as activists, community representatives and youth leaders of oil Pipeline communities, adding that the renewal of the contract may lead to conflicts and conflagrations in the Niger Delta Region.
“What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Chief Government Ekpemupolo cannot be the sole beneficiary of the contract of the oil pipeline surveillance contract in exclusion to others who know their terrain more than him.
“We use this medium also to pay glowing tribute to the brutally murdered contemporary of ours Chief Ogbe Onokpite who was a champion in the pursuit of seeking redress on the inequalities of the now expired oil pipeline surveillance contract,” the statement added.