Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, says the Federal Government has not shown any serious commitment in the composition of a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

 

In a statement released to journalists on Friday, July 2, he said the situation has led to more fear, palpable tension and agitation among the people which is unhealthy for the existing peace in the region.

 

“June 2021 has come to an end. The people of the region are yet to see any tangible move towards the constitution of the NDDC board by the Federal Government. The people are seriously agitated. There is palpable fear and tension in the region”, he said.

 

Tompolo stated that since he reluctantly accepted the outcome of the consultative meeting, to allow the government take quick steps to set up the board, he has done so much to keep peace in the region “which some major stakeholders in the security circle are aware of”.

 

According to him, he has also been in constant touch with his fellow agitators in the region, prevailing on them to give peace a chance, knowing fully well that there cannot be any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancor and acrimony.

 

He therefore urged the government to as a matter of urgency, constitute the NDDC substantive board to avoid unnecessary bickering and crisis in the region.

 

The statement read:

 

“It could be recalled that I issued an ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful on the issue of the NDDC board by constituting the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as an urgent matter of public importance and interest to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the region, sometime ago.

 

“My ultimatum led to a consultative meeting between major stakeholders from the region and Senator Godswill Akpabio in Oporoza town, where a truce was reached, as the Minister profusely pleaded that he should be allowed to start and fast-track the process of constituting the board within the month of June, 2021.

 

“As it stands now, the one thing the government must do in this issue is to be courageous enough to constitute the NDDC board.

 

Government must be sincere in handling developmental issues in the Niger Delta region as the people have suffered enough, being neglected for several decades. The truth of the matter is that there is so much bitterness in the land owing to the lackadaisical attitude of this government in handling matters of great importance to its citizens.

 

“As for my follow agitators, please permit me to borrow the biblical words of Jesus Christ, that we should be wise as serpent and gentle as dove to continue our agitation for a better living for our people.

We must avoid anything that may throw the only relatively peaceful region in the country now, into chaos because of government’s nonchalant attitude towards the security and welfare of its citizenry as constitutionally provided”.

 

The former warlord also lamented the sufferings of Nigerians, saying the real needs of the people are not adequately addressed and charged the government to create opportunities for people to live a prosperous and peaceful life.

 

He also accused multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, alleging that they are part of the conspiracy in the marginalization of the region and challenged them to perform their statutory obligations to the people by promptly delivering on their cooperate social responsivities.

 

“Most of the companies are operating under the cover of the Nigerian Military, which has further exacerbated the relationship between Multinationals and their host communities. They must do their business in a most friendly atmosphere, and not to set neighbouring host communities against one another”.