A group, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has stated three reasons why the federal government should be wary of renewing the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to ex-militant leader, Chief Ekpemupolo Government, alias Tompolo.
In a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the NYCN Secretary General, Comr. Mustapha Hassan, the group stated that the country was too tense to allow for any action that may breed internal turmoil within the ranks of its citizenry.
The group stressed that the contract awarded to Tompolo has resulted in more controversy in the Niger Delta and amongst elites in the country since its award. “Top military brasses have frowned at how the government of Nigeria resorted to awarding contracts to someone who should ordinarily be behind bars for the economic mayhem caused in the Niger Delta region between 2016 and 2018.”
According to them, “Beyond the economic sabotage, the federal government recorded loss of military personnel as well as equipment. The award of the surveillance contract to Tompolo became a mockery for the valour of the fallen soldiers and reward of their families’ pains.”
Secondly, the recent scramble for the contract by the ex- militant leaders in the Niger Delta region is mainly because of the notion that if Tompolo’s rascality can be rewarded by the Federal Government, they should all be carried along. We recall that when the pipelines surveillance contract was handled by Ocean Marine of Late Capt Hosa Okubor, these myriad issues were non-existent chiefly because they were seen as competent hands without blemish.
In the same vein, it is obvious to Nigerians that there is no significant rise in the oil production quantum since this contract was awarded to Tompolo. The successes being celebrated were the normal production rates of the country before the mayhem of the Niger Delta Avengers.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to perish reconsideration of Tompolo for the pipeline surveillance so as to avert incessant agitations that may lead to breakdown of law and order across the country.
“As a group, we urge Mr President to desist from granting contracts that may seem to encourage restiveness and criminality.” The group stressed.
