Foremost Niger Delta ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, yesterday gave a boost to the planned dialogue initiated by the federal government over the recent cases of oil and gas pipeline attacks with a call on ?the new militant groups to embrace the ceasefire and dialogue option as a way out of the crisis in the Niger Delta region.
He said though the federal government’s decision was the best option to resolve the current face off, it was high time the new militant groups stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the region.
In a statement issued yesterday via email and personally signed by him, the former militant leader stated that irrespective of claims made by the new militant groups led by the Niger Delta Avengers as reasons for the attacks on oil facilities, they had only succeeded in provoking the federal government to militarise the region.
“I am making further appeal to members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace the federal government’s dialogue option. I wish to once again write the members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace the federal government’s dialogue option as a way out of the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta region. As I have said before now, I do not know you and how to reach you except through the mass media, therefore it is high time you stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
“One thing you guys may not be aware of is that, you have not only succeeded in militarising the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in given birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now.
“As for the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, they have not known peace since you guys started the bombing of oil facilities as they have been harassed, intimidated, violated and invaded on daily bases by the Nigerian Military under the guise of looking for members of your group (Niger Delta Avengers) and my humble self, who they have criminally and wickedly linked to the Niger Delta Avengers,”Tompolo stated.
According to Tompolo, “presently, all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been disserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles. Even till now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion. It is pertinent to state that I have not heard and seen in any part of Nigeria, even the most volatile North Eastern part of Nigeria,where Boko Haram has been killing innocent people, the way and manner the Military desecrated the traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
“To set the records straight, these are responsible men who had had skilled training under the Presidential Amnesty programme that are currently using their acquired skills to eke out a living. And so the allegation that they are the coordinators of various axes of the Avengers is a malicious and mischievous one.”
