Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, IYC, INC, and Ijaw Leaders Accused of Abandoning Core Struggle as Tompolo Redefines Regional Narrative

By Egbema Voice News

A prominent Niger Delta youth leader, Comrade Mingo Sayami Ogumaka, has raised alarm over what he described as a troubling shift among key Ijaw leadership structures, accusing them of abandoning the foundational demands of the Niger Delta struggle in pursuit of personal and political interests.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Easter Saturday, Comrade Sayami criticized influential stakeholders—including the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and notable ex-agitators—alleging that they have deviated from the core mission of advocating for justice, equity, and development in the oil-rich region.

According to him, the original objectives of the Niger Delta struggle—rooted in resource control, environmental justice, infrastructural development, and improved living conditions—are increasingly being sidelined, leaving the ordinary people disconnected from leadership priorities.

“It is disheartening that those who once stood at the forefront of this struggle are now more aligned with personal gains and political interests than the collective welfare of the Niger Delta people,” he stated.

Historical Foundations of the Niger Delta Struggle Comrade Sayami emphasized that the present concerns must be understood against the backdrop of the enduring legacy of Jasper Adaka Boro, whose 1966 agitation laid the foundation for the Niger Delta movement.

Boro’s demands were clear and people-centered:

1.Resource Control: Ownership of oil resources by host communities

2. Fair Revenue Allocation: Equitable distribution of oil wealth

3. Environmental Justice: Protection and restoration of degraded lands and rivers

4. Self-Determination: Autonomy in political and economic affairs

5. Development: Infrastructure, healthcare, education, and jobs

6. Minority Rights: Recognition and protection of the Ijaw and other ethnic minorities,

These were not personal ambitions,” Sayami noted, “but collective demands for dignity, survival, and justice.”

The Kaiama Declaration: A Defining Charter

He further referenced the historic Kaiama Declaration, issued on December 11, 1998, as a powerful reaffirmation of these demands.

The declaration, championed by the IYC, called for: Full ownership and control of natural resources, Self-determination for the Ijaw people, Withdrawal of oil companies pending fair agreements, Environmental cleanup and compensation, End to military occupation of communities, True federalism and resource-based governance, The declaration also warned that continued neglect could provoke intensified resistance. Freedom Fighters’ Demands and the Amnesty Era,

The youth leader noted that the demands of Niger Delta freedom fighters and later ex-agitators before the 2009 Presidential Amnesty Programme—remained consistent with earlier struggles.

These included: Full resource control and increased deprivation, Environmental remediation and an end to gas flaring, Massive infrastructure development

Youth employment and inclusion in the oil sector, Demilitarization of the region

Compensation and reparations for affected communities, Dialogue and recognition as legitimate stakeholders, While the Amnesty Programme brought relative peace, Sayami argued that the root causes of agitation remain largely unresolved.

“The Niger Delta struggle is bigger than individuals. It is a generational fight for justice. Leaders must return to accountability, transparency, and genuine representation,” he said.

He further stressing that, today Niger Delta underdeveloped it majorly caused by the bad Niger Delta leaders who pushed more personal interest than the core demands of the people of Niger Deltan, why attacking Niger Delta born heroic, GOC high (chief) Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpomupolo aka Tomopolo for his good work in the Niger Delta, it mis

He further stressed that the persistent underdevelopment of the Niger Delta is largely a result of poor leadership, where personal interests have too often been placed above the collective needs and core demands of the people.

He expressed concern over the ongoing criticisms and attacks directed at Niger Delta-born leader and freedom fighter, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo), despite his contributions toward peace and stability in the region. According to him, it is unjust and counterproductive to fight those who are working for the progress of the region, describing such actions as both unfair and ungodly.

He emphasized that Tompolo’s efforts, particularly through the operations of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, have significantly contributed to securing pipelines, improving oil production, and promoting peace in the Niger Delta.

He further noted that before the pipeline surveillance contracts were awarded, sacrifices had already been made by Tompolo and several ex-agitators who collectively paid the price for the region’s stability. He clarified that these efforts were not individual achievements but collective struggles shared among leaders of the Niger Delta.

He warned that continuous opposition to Tantita Security Services is indirectly a challenge against the Federal Government and a threat to the fragile peace currently being enjoyed in the region.

He therefore called on all regional leaders to refocus their attention on the fundamental demands of the Niger Delta people, urging unity, cooperation, and strategic engagement. He added that while the company has made commendable efforts, not everyone can benefit at the same time, and patience is necessary for broader inclusion