"All is Well" "All is Well"
The above were the only words uttered by an emotional and tearful Mr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo on October 5, 2009 while handing over gunboats and other military apparatus to the then Defence Minister Godwin Abe. This came after military siege led to the death of over 400 people and displacement of more than 3,000 in communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom, South West Warri, Delta state. As part of the amnesty conditions, Tompolo pledged not to return to the creeks and default will mean a declaration of war against the State.
Fast forward January 2016, there are reports of attacks on oil installation with some fingers pointing at Ekpemupolo(Tompolo) as being behind it in a bid to evade his court summon. Ekpemupolo on the other hand has repeatedly denied having hand in the ongoing economic sabotage, maintaining that he's being framed by those that wants him down.
Who is behind the attack on oil installation in Warri?.
Is Ekpemupolo(Tompolo) Really Behind It?
What will make Tompolo pick up arms to blow oil facilities when part of the terms of the amnesty package is that a return to the creek with arms is a declaration of war? Is it possible that a Tompolo with businesses and foundation located in the Niger Delta that worth billions of naira will foolishly put them on the line? Is it sane that Mr Tompolo, owner of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL), Lagos will return to the creek knowing that such action means gifting ownership of his assets to the State? Is it logical to believe that Mr Tompolo will pick arms to cause more destruction and invite military action on people that he spend "his money" to rehabilitate considering that he is the founder and financier of Tompolo Foundation(Warri) that has employed some people and is engaged in providing healthcare and Education services to inhabitants of the creek whose lands have been degraded due to exploration? Is it logical to think that Mr Tompolo will return to economic and environmental sabotage when he didn't do such over 4months ago when his companies' account(Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessels Limited) were frozen by EFCC? Is it logical that the Tompolo that felt military might, who couldn't control his tears in 2009 will carry up arms to blow installation in 2015?
I will not hold brief for Tompolo but I believe that we all should look beyond the surface. Prior to the attack on oil installation, Tompolo had cried out that some people(political opponents) were out to frame him. In his own words...
After the attacks on oil facilities, he lamented that he wasn't behind it, maintaining that people want to frame him. He even termed such act "self destruct". He pledged to assist the government to fish out the perpetrators, which I think is the responsible thing to do. Again is it logical to assume that he is behind it simply because the media attaches ex-militant title to his name?
He Has No Warship
Contrary to what people are made to believe, Tompolo does not own a warship. The gunboats that his company bought in early 2015 was for the Nigeria Navy, and it was handed over to the navy(according to NIMASSA). Even the government of Buhari hasn't refuted the delivery. I don't think it is fair to say that Tompolo is planning something silly when he said(and maintained) that he isn't.
Who Is Behind The Attacks on Oil Installation?
I believe that we should look at this with an open mind. Is it that some political opponents that want to bring Tompolo down are behind this attack so as to paint a picture that the youngman is an outlaw? Are there rival militant camps that want to "topple" Tompolo in scheme of relevance by employing economic sabotage to make it appear like Tompolo is the person responsible? Are there members of Tompolo's establishment that wants to see Tompolo to be treated as an outlaw so as to share his acquired wealth? Is the PDP behind it to instigate crises so as to frustrate Buhari's government and set the Ijaws against the State in other to divert attention from the arms probe? Is the APC behind it so as to create an environment for declaration of State of Emergency in Delta state or Warri axis so as to impose their stooge? Who is behind the bombing? This is the job of the military and the intelligence community to unravel. I hope that they deal decisively with perpetrators of the wicked act.
It is unfortunate that fellow citizens for one reason or the other will turn to destroy their own land. The government must arrest the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice without putting the lives of the innocent on the line.
May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria
The above were the only words uttered by an emotional and tearful Mr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo on October 5, 2009 while handing over gunboats and other military apparatus to the then Defence Minister Godwin Abe. This came after military siege led to the death of over 400 people and displacement of more than 3,000 in communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom, South West Warri, Delta state. As part of the amnesty conditions, Tompolo pledged not to return to the creeks and default will mean a declaration of war against the State.
Fast forward January 2016, there are reports of attacks on oil installation with some fingers pointing at Ekpemupolo(Tompolo) as being behind it in a bid to evade his court summon. Ekpemupolo on the other hand has repeatedly denied having hand in the ongoing economic sabotage, maintaining that he's being framed by those that wants him down.
Who is behind the attack on oil installation in Warri?.
Is Ekpemupolo(Tompolo) Really Behind It?
What will make Tompolo pick up arms to blow oil facilities when part of the terms of the amnesty package is that a return to the creek with arms is a declaration of war? Is it possible that a Tompolo with businesses and foundation located in the Niger Delta that worth billions of naira will foolishly put them on the line? Is it sane that Mr Tompolo, owner of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL), Lagos will return to the creek knowing that such action means gifting ownership of his assets to the State? Is it logical to believe that Mr Tompolo will pick arms to cause more destruction and invite military action on people that he spend "his money" to rehabilitate considering that he is the founder and financier of Tompolo Foundation(Warri) that has employed some people and is engaged in providing healthcare and Education services to inhabitants of the creek whose lands have been degraded due to exploration? Is it logical to think that Mr Tompolo will return to economic and environmental sabotage when he didn't do such over 4months ago when his companies' account(Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessels Limited) were frozen by EFCC? Is it logical that the Tompolo that felt military might, who couldn't control his tears in 2009 will carry up arms to blow installation in 2015?
I will not hold brief for Tompolo but I believe that we all should look beyond the surface. Prior to the attack on oil installation, Tompolo had cried out that some people(political opponents) were out to frame him. In his own words...
“I want to admonish those that are still aggrieved as a result of the outcome of the election not to resort to destruction of national assets, specifically, crude oil facilities and pipelines and attribute it to me because of my position on the election to desist from such acts as it will not do us good as a country, as we all need to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to succeed.”
After the attacks on oil facilities, he lamented that he wasn't behind it, maintaining that people want to frame him. He even termed such act "self destruct". He pledged to assist the government to fish out the perpetrators, which I think is the responsible thing to do. Again is it logical to assume that he is behind it simply because the media attaches ex-militant title to his name?
He Has No Warship
Contrary to what people are made to believe, Tompolo does not own a warship. The gunboats that his company bought in early 2015 was for the Nigeria Navy, and it was handed over to the navy(according to NIMASSA). Even the government of Buhari hasn't refuted the delivery. I don't think it is fair to say that Tompolo is planning something silly when he said(and maintained) that he isn't.
Who Is Behind The Attacks on Oil Installation?
I believe that we should look at this with an open mind. Is it that some political opponents that want to bring Tompolo down are behind this attack so as to paint a picture that the youngman is an outlaw? Are there rival militant camps that want to "topple" Tompolo in scheme of relevance by employing economic sabotage to make it appear like Tompolo is the person responsible? Are there members of Tompolo's establishment that wants to see Tompolo to be treated as an outlaw so as to share his acquired wealth? Is the PDP behind it to instigate crises so as to frustrate Buhari's government and set the Ijaws against the State in other to divert attention from the arms probe? Is the APC behind it so as to create an environment for declaration of State of Emergency in Delta state or Warri axis so as to impose their stooge? Who is behind the bombing? This is the job of the military and the intelligence community to unravel. I hope that they deal decisively with perpetrators of the wicked act.
It is unfortunate that fellow citizens for one reason or the other will turn to destroy their own land. The government must arrest the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice without putting the lives of the innocent on the line.
May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria
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