Former Niger Delta militant leader,Government Ekpemupolo Sunday appealed
to the renegade militants involved in recent attacks on oil and Gas
pipelines in the Niger Delta region to stop and return to the
negotiation table with the Federal Government in order to give peace a
chance in the Niger Delta Region.
In a strongly worded letter to
the newly formed terror group, the billionaire warlord, in a statement
sent to SaharaReporters via email said though he is constrained to write
the members of the Niger Delta Avengers group to put an end to this act
of pipeline vandalism, the attacks will not do Nigeria any good,
especially in this critical period of its economic history.
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, in the letter he personally signed, Tompolo stated:
“You
members of the Niger Delta Avengers group are aware that some
mischievous persons have continued to point accusing fingers at me that I
am either behind you or directly carrying out the destruction of oil
pipelines across the Niger Delta region. Therefore, I should be arrested
by the Nigerian Military. Sadly, the military had bought this
ethnic-induced and wicked accusation without a single proof to show that
I am truly behind you people.”” On the other hand, some have
suggested that you may be part of the multitude of characters I had
catered for, from economically empowering from payment of school fees,
hospital bills, and house rents and so on. And that as am out of
circulation as a result of my travails in the hands of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), you might be tempted to strike out
on your own for sheer survival.”“Whichever the case, I still
maintain that I know nothing about your group and the destruction of
crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. I have made it clear on
many occasions that the issue I am having with the EFFC will not make me
resort to violence, and the bombing of oil pipelines as my team of
lawyers have already challenged the defective process of legal service
on me in the Court of Appeal.”
“I am a man of truth and
peace, therefore, will not be involved in violent activities. That
notwithstanding, for the love of country and out of patriotism, I wish
to appeal to you once again to stop the bombing of oil facilities in the
Niger Delta region, and embrace the path of dialogue with the Federal
Government of Nigeria, as the government is ready to hear you out on
whatever issues you wish to discuss with it. You guys know that I do not
know you and how to reach you, except through the mass media.”
”
If truly as you guys claimed that you are fighting for the well-being
of the people of the Niger Delta, then you must adhere to this appeal,
otherwise, the World will label you as criminals. Come to think of the
consequences of your actions in the region so far, particularly as it
affects me and the people of Gbaramatu kingdom.”
“Just
yesterday, the Nigerian Army invaded the ancestral headquarters of the
kingdom, Oporoza town, under the guise of looking for members of your
group, particularly me, who they have wickedly linked to your group, and
unleashed mayhem on the innocent people of the community. And this
happened in my absence as I am currently out of Gbaramatu kingdom, but
what I gathered from some of the victims of the Army invasion is
unspeakable. Even pots of soup were not spared.”
“The Army
has massively looted resident homes, desecrated traditional places of
worship, committed sacrilege, abominations and what have you. The army
has continued to occupy the community till this moment. What a sad tale.
One thing you should know is that government is not interested in its
constitutional duty of protection of lives and the welfare of its
citizens, rather it is interested in the continued flow of crude oil in
the region. Therefore, it could do anything to make the oil flow, not
minding the security and the welfare of the people. Remember, this same
army arrested Chevron Nigeria Ltd staff and labelled them as members of
the Niger Delta Avengers few weeks ago in one of the Communities in
Gbaramatu kingdom.”
“It took a spirited effort by the
community and other well-meaning Nigerians to intervene for the release
of those Chevron staff. This shows that the Nigerian Government can do
anything to our innocent people in the communities in the guise of
looking for members of the Avengers.
One other reason you guys must
stop this new campaign of destruction is that the contractors in charge
of repair works of attacked pipelines are equally culpable in the act of
pipeline vandalism as they now sponsor their allays in the communities
to continue to destroy pipelines to get more repair works. This is the
sorry state we have found ourselves in the Niger Delta.”
“To
this end dear Niger Delta Avengers, you must put an end to this
economic sabotage and allow the government to look into your demands
now. I believe a word is enough for the wise. “