By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited’s juicy N48bn per year contract to ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo for surveillance on oil pipeline installations in the Niger Delta region may soon cause bigger security concerns, as some ex-warlords have threatened to resume hostilities, alleging exclusion in the N4bn per month contract.
The former fighters under the aegis of 3rd Phase Ex-Agitators’ Leaders in a statement, recently called for the review of the contract to include them, warning that it will fail if the relevant authorities do not heed to this call.
In a communiqué signed by their National Chairman, General Tonye Bobo; Vice Chairman, General Birinumughan Jesse; Delta State Secretary, General Louis Prince and the Coordinator for Warri South, Warri South-West as well as Warri North Local Government Areas, Comrade Abugewa Mene, said the Tompolo contract must be reviewed to make it all inclusive.
They therefore called for a meeting with authorities “especially with the 3rd phase ex- agitators’ leaders, to ensure proper security of the pipelines and oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. If not, it will fail.”
Meanwhile the leadership of the the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has also wielded into the matter, with its president, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, setting up a 5-man committee to interface with stakeholders in order to forestall any possible break down of law and order that would affect Nigeria’s oil production capacity.
Comrade Abugewa Mene said it’s a necessity to “carry everybody along.”
“It has to be inclusive for sustainable protection or security of the pipelines; if not the project will fail.
“We are not calling for the removal of the contract. We are calling for the review of the contract to ensure that everybody is carried along. Because if it is withdrawn, how are we sure that a Niger Deltan can get it? Rather it should be reviewed to ensure that one’s area of interest and influence is secured.”
At the recent inauguration of a five-member committee to interface with stakeholders on the matter at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the Ijaw National Congress, INC President, Prof Benjamin Okaba insists that the anger being generated by the contract award should not be allowed to fester.
“The common good and unity of our people should not be compromised at any time,” he said.
“Our people have suffered for too long, and in the process of the struggle for resource control lost lives and communities sometimes invaded and destroyed.
“Instead of being in total control of our resources, allowing crumbs to cause in-fighting and division amongst us would be to our own injury and disadvantage.
“We hope the committee, chaired by the National Financial Secretary of the INC, would yield positive outcomes.”
Also contributing, the National Secretary of Amnesty Phase 3, ‘General’ Tam Odogu, described Tompolo as the best man for the pipelines surveillance job.
He expressed surprise at the agitation already being generated by the contract award even when Tompolo, according to him, has not disclosed the “method of deployment” for the surveillance jobs.
He said: “Ordinarily, the contract is aimed at stopping all pipelines vandalism, illegal bunkering and others; it must involve people. People must be seen working practically for the government to see how these abnormal activities can be stopped.
“So people must be taken from every area, both the oil producing and non-oil producing communities. If this thing is shared to communities, as a general, you have to be identified from your community. If it is shared to militant groups, then those in every group must be identified. To me, it is too early for people to start to say this or that.
“My own observation is that Tompolo has to finalise everything about the contract before anything can be done.
“It is my humble advice to our GOC to seek the face of our traditional gods, our Egbesus and the Almighty God, which he has always done, to guide him.
“Some persons think that once they are given this contract, they will sit at home and eat Federal Government’s money. This is work! It is a call to duty, call to service.
“A lot of things are going wrong in the Niger Delta. This is a responsibility given to Tompolo and, by extension, whoever comes into this project also has a responsibility. So all hands have to be on the deck for us to fulfill the end.
“If they don’t want Tompolo to have this contract, I don’t know who they want to give it to that will actually deliver. This is a security matter and the person must have the credibility to handle it.
“So if they take it from Tompolo, who is that person in the Niger Delta that they want it given to? Tompolo remains the best person for this contract. And all those that are ready to cause problems are all scared of Tompolo.
“Tompolo is the best person for the contract. The Federal Government should be rest assured that Tompolo will deliver. And all well-meaning Niger Delta ex-agitators, Niger Delta youths, we are all behind Tompolo.
“We are going to collectively deliver. Tompolo remains the best person for this contract. Federal Government should do the needful and go to sleep. Leave every other thing for Tompolo and the rest of us.”
There has not been any reaction from the NNPC on the matter as at the moment of this report particularly on the possibility of reviewing the contract.
There has been relative peace in the region especially with regards to the protection of oil facilities ever since the ex-agitator was handed over the contract of securing the installations.
There is a drastic reduction in cases of pipeline vandalidation and disruption of drilling activities even though cases of oil theft have not been totally eradicated.
