A former member of the National Assembly from Bayelsa State, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange and the leadership of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) worldwide have described as commendable and a ‘reward for competence’ the award of oil pipeline surveillance contract by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo.
Barigha-Amange, who served as senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, described the decision to award the surveillance job as a reward for track records of competence and expertise in security matters in the Delta region.
IYC led by its president, Deacon Peter Igbifa, said the decision was an affirmation of the capacity and the leadership acumen of High Chief Tompolo along the creeks and rivers of the region.
Barigha-Amange, in a statement in Yenagoa, noted that the position of the Niger Delta Leaders especially Stakeholders is clear on the award of the contract to Tompolo which he fully supports as Tompolo’s company like other bidder was at liberty to bid, win, execute any legitimate job with a track record of competence and expertise in security in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, “Tompolo’s contract is only a tip of the iceberg to the reality of the Niger Delta tales and renewed call for complete practice of the tenets of restructuring as restated over time. It is obvious that the Niger Delta people are engraved to be in the middle of nowhere and labeled ‘Theft’ even when the real thieves parade themselves as security personnel, contractors and Political Allies to wound the nation’s economy already in “Comatose”.
Also, Igbifa, in a position made available after a call by the Executive Council members of the Ijaw Youth leadership to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo at Oporoza in Delta State, expressed the readiness of the youths from the region to partner with the Surveillance contractors to end the menace of oil theft.
According to Igbifa, though Ijaw Youths were angered by the purported protest against the award of the Surveillance contracts to Tompolo, “For us, Tompolo has been in the waters and creeks of the region and knows the issues that will end the crude oil theft. He knows the importance of keeping the region’s environment safe. He has kick-started consultation among the stakeholders and the job will be widely acceptable.”
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