The Western Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council, comprising of Edo, Delta and Ondo States, have slammed the Arewa Youth Assembly over the latter’s display of utter disrespect for High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
In a statement signed by Doubra Okotete and Omaghomi Olu-Derimon, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the IYC described the call for the federal government to not award pipeline surveillance to Tompolo as “reckless, irresponsible, childish, shameful”.
It also said that the statement was an outright conveyance of self destructive manners by the Arewa Youth Assembly.
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The IYC further issued a seven days ultimatum for the Arewa group to apologize to Tompolo.
The statement reads in full;
Statement on Tompolo by Arewa youth Assembly, reckless, irresponsible, childish, shameful, conveys self destructive manners say IYC.
Coming up with unfounded and awful allegations is one thing and having the charisma to defend them is totally a different ball game.
The Ijaw youth council western zone under the steady and unshakable leadership of Dr Doubra Collins Okotete has described the recent statement credited to one of these micro northern groups, Arewa Youth Assembly searching for patronage or recognition, which is obviously being bankrolled by some sponsors as ruse, Arewa youth assembly shot itself on the foot knowing well that, there will be a thousand response and reactions against their unguided and divisive statement over a man who has constantly kept the peace of Niger Delta and Nigeria by extension.
If the Arewa Youth Assembly were responsible enough, protection of pipeline security would not be part or bane of their statement with the level of insecurity ravaging the north with no solution in sight and with the recent incident that occured on the 28th of march 2022, were terrorist freely unchallenged bombed the Kaduna Abuja train, killing several promising Nigerians and kidnapping more than a hundred passengers on the train and within same period the Kaduna International Airport was attacked and under siege.
These are just a few of the several insecurity challenges bedeviling the Northern part of the country and the Arewa youth assembly with a notorious propensity for violence are yet to condemn these horrific happenings in the North but quick to speak on oil matters that they don’t have a knowledge of how its produced. “We nor blane una”
They should know that CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.
While innocent citizens are still in the custody of the bandits that attacked the train with such like scenario spread across the northern part of the country, a mannerless and a juvenile body such as Arewa youth assembly will shamefully berate Tompolo who have constantly sacrificed a lot in maintaining the relative peace across the Niger Delta region with unbroken track records.
We can recall that just recently a notorious kidnapper, MK was on rampage in the creeks of Delta state creating uneasy calm.
He allegedly killed some military men, carting away their ammunition, but low and behold, it was still the same Tompolo who came to the rescue, captured MK and his men and handed them over.
This is just a sample of so many rescue operations he has embarked on without public attention.
We make bold to say that if a figure like Tompolo was in the Northern part of Nigeria , peace would have returned by now.
It is on record that despite the pipeline security awarded to some firms, oil theft and pipeline vandalisation is on the rise and it is a noticable fact by NNPC and the Federal government that Tompolo is the ONLY man that can come to the rescue before our economy nosedives to a level that will take us back to the woods.
He has shown capacity over time and and Niger Deltans are proud and happy with his leadership charisma.
Knowing well that oil is the mainstay of the countries economy that the NNPC limited under the leadership of Mallam Mpele Koko Kyari and the FG should ignore the callous statement coming from over pampered group since the Niger Delta is ready to cooperate with Tompolo to secure our national assets for the overall good of our country.
Stating that, Tompolo is first a Niger Deltan, a bridge builder, and a man who has sacrificed so much in ensuring peace in the region and the Nigerian state at large. Tompolo is the main reason for the stability in the oil and gas industry.
On a final note, the Arewa Youth should be cautioned, and we make bold to state that the Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone will not tolerate any group or persons trying to malign or embarrass our revered Ijaw leaders unprovoked.
Therefore, we demand an unreserved apology from the so called Arewa youth assembly to our distinguished leader High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo withing seven days.
