Following suffocating pressure from some quarters calling for the cancellation of the Federal Government’s N48billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, an Edo group, Coalition of Edo Social Cultural Groups (CESCG), on Thursday, expressed support for the government’s decision to engage the former Niger Delta militant.
The group said any well-meaning Niger Deltan committed to peace, development and progress in the region should join hand with Tompolo to ensure the smooth operation of the multi-billion naira contract.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, CESCG condemned the outbursts by some individuals and groups against the contract award.
The convener of the Coalition, Comrade Kola Edokpayi, flanked by Comrade Joseph Gbale and Comrade Solomon Okuduwa, said their mission was to bring all stakeholders to speak in one voice for the common interest of the Niger Delta region.
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent issues lingering among youth stakeholders in the Niger Delta region regarding the Pipeline Surveillance Contract given to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo.
“We have noticed series of press statements and issues emanating from other interest groups across the Niger Delta region calling on the Federal Government to call off the contract and give it to another person or group of persons.
“We, totally condemn this act and we call on all interest groups to come together and work with Tompolo in other for us and the region to achieve a huge result.
“We, therefore, call on all aggrieved groups and individuals to embrace High Chief Government Ekpemupolo leadership and put a stop to such violence-prone protest and prevent outsiders from causing disorder in our region.
“That we have implicit confidence on High Chief Government Ekpemoplo’s (a.k.a Tompolo) ability to police the pipelines across the region and having carefully watched his approach in consulting and ringing all stakeholders to a roundtable for inclusiveness and to see that no one is left behind.
“We also humbly implore all interest groups and various stakeholders in the region to work together as one, while advising High Chief Tompolo to continue to reach out to those who are still aggrieved in the region as we are all takeholders in the security surveillance job even in the midst of the unwarranted bickering,” Edokpayi stated.
