- Again, Tompolo begs Avengers to stop bombing oil facilities
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There is a split in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) following the invasion of Gbaramatu kingdom by soldiers attached to Operation Pulo Shield in search of former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo and members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The soldiers, who invaded the area in seven gunboats, arrested some suspects while ongoing investigations linked them to the spate of attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
The military action has, however, caused division in IYC as some executive members have suspended President and Secretary, Udengs Eradiri and Eric Omare for their support and defence of Tompolo.
In a swift reaction, loyalists to Eradiri and Omare countered the suspension by declaring the letter sent to the mobile parliament as null and void.
The Mobile Parliament of the Ijaw Group, made up of representatives from Ijaw-speaking clans within and outside the Niger Delta region, also declared that “the same letter purportedly announcing the removal should be referred back to the secretary for disrespecting the parliament and that Udengs Eradiri remains the President and Barrister Eric Omare Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide.”
In the resolution reached at the end of the IYC mobile parliament sitting, which took place at Usoku Town in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, signed by its Speaker, Mkpon Anon Ijonama and Clerk of the Parliament Sunny Ogoriba, it summoned the IYC National Executive Council (NEC) to appear before the mobile parliament in their next sitting within two weeks to give state of affairs of the Ijaw nation.
The parliament, which condemned the invasion of Gbaramatu has, however, summoned the NEC to appear before it failing which would lead to serious sanctions.
Also, the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) has offered to mediate in halting the renewed attacks on oil facilities in Niger Delta region and frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in various parts of the country.
Vice President of WAY, Mr. Preye Ketebu-Brown who stated this in Yenagoa said the world youth body would tour crisis-affected spots in Nigeria as part of its mediation plan for conflict resolution.
Meanwhile, former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has, again appealed to members of NDA to stop attacking oil facilities and explore the option of dialogue with the Federal Government to resolve the problems in the region.
Tompolo, in a letter personally signed by him, said he was constrained to write to members of NDA to put an end to pipeline vandalism as the attacks would not do the Niger Delta region and the nation any good in the face of falling oil prices.
Tompolo, who regretted being linked with the activities of NDA, declared that he was for peace in the region.
“You members of the NDA are aware that some mischievous persons have continued to point 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 (sic) 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 persons I had catered for, from economically empowering to payment of school fees, hospital bills, and house rents and so on…”