By Victor Lewis
As most Nigerians continue to salute the federal government for awarding the contract for pipelines surveillance and prevention of oil theft in the Niger Delta to a company in which Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has interest, the Executive chairman of Warri North Local Government Council, Hon. Smart Yomi Asekutu has expressed implicit confidence in the competence and capacity of the Gbaramatu-born High chief to checkmate the already-notorious oil theft that is ripping the nation’s economy apart.
The Nigerian economy has suffered severe blow and has been bleeding in recent time following incessant oil theft that have crippled crude oil production significantly such that the nation cannot even meet up with the generous production quota approved by OPEC to the Country.
At such a time when crude oil price in the international market is well above 70 percent of the nation’s budget benchmark and other OPEC member countries are smiling to the banks with superfluous profit, Nigeria has not been able to meet up the approved quota and the government has consistently blamed the abysmal shortfall on incessant oil theft.
As a measure to checkmate the scourge of oil theft, the federal government recently awarded the contract for the surveillance and security of pipeline networks including illegal loading of Nigerian crude oil in the high seas by foreign-sponsored oil vessels to private security companies including that in which Tompolo has interest.
A Northern-based youth body, Amalgamated Arewa Youth Group, has criticized the federal government for the award of the contract to the former MEND leader, calling for the withdrawal of the contract as it accused the government of romancing with the leader of Niger Delta ex-agitators.
However, commenting on the development, the Executive chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Hon. Smart Yomi Asekutu commended the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva who, in collaboration with the management of the NNPC Company Limited, initiated the idea to contract the job to private companies including that of Tompolo, just as he also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to and approving the initiative.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Asekutu recalled that Tompolo has an enviable precedent in the protection of oil facility during the Yar Adua/Jonathan administrations which witnessed very minimal pipeline vandalism and oil theft.
Asekutu also vouched for the integrity and honesty of the Gbaramatu High Chief, Tompolo, adding that since the time he accepted the amnesty programme which ended the violence in the Niger Delta, he has devoted much of his time to the process of peace building at the community, Local Government and State levels, adding that his experience and knowledge of the local and high seas is a great asset that will help to curb the incessant oil theft in the region.
“First of all, when I heard that that contract was awarded to Tompolo, I said that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva knows what to do and he has just done what is right. As a Chairman of a Local Government Council, I will always support a process that will ensure a lasting peace in my Area. We have witnessed a lot of agitations led by youths in the Niger Delta in the past.
“When the idea of amnesty for ex-agitators came up, in all fairness, the leader of the then Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo and his followers accepted the programme and since then he has conducted himself by supporting the various government peace process at the Community level, Local Government Level, State level and federal government level. He has not reneged on his promised to ensure peace in the Niger Delta region and even beyond.
“And so, today, you can only use somebody who knows the history and knowledge of how oil pipeline can be vandalized, how crude oil can be stolen in the region for this exercise. He has been on ground. I can tell you that some of the youths that are involved in this illegal bunkering and even some top Nigerians that are involved in the stealing of Nigerian crude in the high seas, the name of Tompolo not only dreads them, but put fears into their hearts.
“And so, if the federal government is really serious with the aim of curbing pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta, it can only be Tompolo to be considered and begged to accept to do this for the benefit of the oil companies and the government at a time like this. Whoever initiated this idea to get Tompolo involved must be appreciated. The decision will produce a lasting solution against illegal bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta”, Asekutu said.
In vouching for the character and integrity of Tompolo, the Warri North Council boss stated that the former MEND leader is not only trustworthy, but reliable, truthful and determined to carry out whatever he believes in, adding that the federal government and, indeed, Nigerians will see the difference by the time he settles down to carry out the assignment.
“Tompolo is a trustworthy individual, he is reliable, truthful and determined to do whatever he believes in from the beginning to the end. He is experienced, he is a grassroots man and so much endowed with knowledge of the geography of the Niger Delta coupled with a great wealth of traditional intelligence.
“I’m not surprised that a handful of individuals are protesting against the award of the contract to Tompolo’s company. This is because, by the time he would have settled down to commence work on the project, Nigerians and, indeed, the federal government would realize that he is a round peg in a round hole as far as the protection against pipeline vandalism and oil theft are concerned. I’m very confident that Tompolo would deliver; he would be able to subdue those who are involved in oil theft in the Niger Delta”, he added.
The Council boss advised those who are involved in illegal bunkering and oil theft to desist from it and interface with Tompolo so that he could integrate them in the contract in a genuine and legitimate way.
“My advice to those who have been involved in illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region must stop and, at best, interface with Tompolo so that he could integrate such persons in the execution of the contract in a genuine and legal way. And the Tompolo I know very well, he would be able to sit down and work out those who can assist him to succeed in the execution of the contract. I can vouch for him.
“So, for those who are trying to antagonize him, I advise them to stop, and go to Tompolo to interface with him for him to know where he can fix them and work towards achieving the desire of the federal government.
“I also encourage the oil companies to support him to create an enabling environment for them to work peacefully and profitably in their operations. We have seen and could testify to his antecedents in the past and in my capacity as a Council chairman who deals with the grassroots, I’m saying this without any barrier. I just want to thank the person of Chief Timipre Sylva for this initiative and the President, Muhammadu Buhari, for listening to the wise counsel of Chief Sylva”, the Local Government chairman said.
As to whether Tompolo has the capacity to monitor the high seas where the major part of oil theft takes place with tankers and vessels from abroad, Asekutu said that the former MEND leader good knowledge of the local creeks and the extent of Nigerian territorial waters, adding that over the years he has the capacity to provide security at the high seas because he has done it before.
Asekutu called on the Ijaws to celebrate Tompolo for his commitment to the peace and development of different Ijaw communities, assuring that Tompolo would certainly succeed in the execution of the security contract.
“Well, let me tell you that I’m from this area and I’m an Ijaw by tribe. We have a first-hand knowledge of this area. It may also interest you to know that I’m been in the marine industry for so many years within and outside this country before today, I find myself as a Council chairman. Nothing is new to Tompolo whether in the creeks or in the high sea. I can tell you that the federal government has been having this ugly experience because they undermined the importance of the grassroots.
“Now that the government has decided to come down to get the grassroots involved in its bid to curtail the scourge of illegal bunkering and oil theft, I can tell you that Tompolo can handle the situation both at the local level and in the high sea. We have the antecedents of Tompolo. He has never been a failure. Whatever he embarks on to do, he has always been faithful to himself. So, I can say that the government has really taken the right decision. So, I want to plead with our youths and other ex-agitator’s leaders to be selfless with themselves and give the necessary support to Tompolo.
“Everybody should give him the chance and the cooperation for him to succeed because it is a thing of honour even for us as the people of Niger Delta that the President, Muhammadu Buhari has reposed trust and confidence in one of us to take up such a sensitive assignment. This recognition by the federal government has actually justified what Tompolo represents in the Community and even in the Niger Delta region.
“We should be able to celebrate him in the sense that he has not in any way betrayed nor brought disgrace to his people. Now that the federal government has come to realized that Tompolo can be of immense held to the country now, I want to plead with our people to depart from the path of destruction and give him every support he needs to succeed. I also want to add that Tompolo will succeed in the presence of all those who do not want to support him”, Asekutu concluded.
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