NDDC: Tompolo Accepts Akpabio-Led Peace Initiative
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), who is also the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, has said he has accepted the outcome of a consultative meeting with critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta Region, initiated by the Minister of the Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Ekpemupolo said: “As it stands now, I have accepted the outcome of the meeting reluctantly. It is pertinent to state at this juncture that I do not want anything to disrupt the relative peace we are enjoying in the region.
“It was on this premise that I accepted the outcome of the meeting. The ultimate goal in this issue is for the minister to abide by the promise he has made to start the process of constituting the NDDC Board now.
“Government shenanigans must be put away in this matter as constituting the NDDC Board is very dear to the heart of the people of the region.”
Tompolo, in a statement, on Friday, further said: “I issued a Seven-day ultimatum on the above subject-matter on Monday, 31 May, 2021.
“There were a lots of concerns expressed by Nigerians on this matter within this period, hence machineries were put in place for consultations among Nigerians, especially from highly-placed individuals and organisations from the Niger Delta region, including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“As I expressed in my press statement of Monday, 31 May 2021, I came into this matter because of love for the region and Nigeria. I make bold to say that I cannot be compromised by money and other material things.
“However, the only thing one can do for Nigeria in this trying times, where all the six geopolitical zones are in turmoil, is to pray to God for peace and tranquility, particularly for the economic hub of the country, the Niger Delta region.
“Therefore, I welcomed the consultative meeting of our revered traditional rulers from the region, Delta State government, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), led by its president, Professor Benjamin Okaba, leaders from the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and other nationalities with the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio in attendance, at the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oporoza Town on Thursday, 3 June, 2021.
“The outcome of the meeting has been made known to the public by the minister. He promised profusely to start the process of the constitution and inauguration of the substantive board of the NDDC immediately (from Friday, 4 June, 2021), and that he should be allowed to drive the process to an end on or before the end of June, 2021.
“As it stands now, I have accepted the outcome of the meeting reluctantly. It is pertinent to state at this juncture that, I do not want anything to disrupt the relative peace we are enjoying in the region.
“It was on this premise that I accepted the outcome of the meeting. The ultimate goal in this issue is for the minister to abide by the promise he has made to start the process of constituting the NDDC Board now.
“Government shenanigans must be put away in this matter as constituting the NDDC board is very dear to the heart of the people of the region.”
He thanked elder statesman, Chief E. K Clark, the governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, INC president, Professor Okaba, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral A. Hassan and other leaders for their intervention in the peace process.
