AYIRI CALLING FOR WAR - ENA OFUGARA

Should The New Olu Of Warri Call Ayiri Emami To Order To Forestall An Unneeded War?

ENA OFUGARA WRITES:

There is little difference between Ayiri and Tompolo. Whatever difference you see may be guided by your tribe and viewpoint. They are both young Niger Delta men who have profited from restiveness in the region by their ability to control the youths and collect moneys from government and companies in the region while ensuring relative peace and organization, along with safety of men and materials. There is nothing Tompolo has done that Ayiri has not done and vice versa. Ayiri may be more flamboyant and elegant and have better press. It does not make what he does any different from what Tompolo does... Profit from the insecurity in the Niger Delta.

Ijaws and Itsekiris enjoyed centuries of peaceful cohabitation and a crisscrossing of cultures that who owns what is only politically determined. The unwritten history and oral tradition ensures this. In the not too recent past, a sad war took place that almost made eternal enemies of symbiotic neighbours. It was caused by government politicizing capital of local government which went truly awry. Note that the underlying struggle for ownership of Warri is a fuel waiting for any spark. The spark then was the local government area capital. The spark now could be Ayiri's antagonism of everything Tompolo.

For those who may not understand what is going on, Tompolo  is Ijaw and Ayiri Itsekiris. Between them, they sell off lands or collect compensation in the name of the people and youths of the land. Since there is a struggle as to the true ownership of many areas in Warri and environs, Tompolo and Ayiri work out percentages along with Ilajes and few times Urhobos. But these two Titans collect the lion share. Does it really reach the people for whom they collect these payments from companies? Well, collection of Rolls Royce and wealth displayed by both men shows both are far from saints. In fact, many say even salaries for jobs gotten for their people, sometimes they collect share of the salary...even with all the billions they have. That is the belief. I cannot prove same. What I can prove however is that the Gas City and many companies that were to kick off in Warri during GEJ era, the greed of one or more of these titans delayed it.

Now note that before these men organized the youths, Ijaw, Itsekiiri and Urhobos youths would have had no jobs as the Fulanis and Yorubas and Igbos would have populated these positions. So to the Niger Deltan, it is a case of "at all at all na weensh", meaning it is better to have Tompolo and Ayiri fight for the youths and locals and get something than to be relegated and ignored as has happened to the region pre militancy where got nothing.

Having understood the politics of the creeks where it is a struggle and sharing formula where Ibori and Uduaghan have favored Ayiri and Goodluck Jonathan has favored Tompolo, and the balance ensuring peace between them both and their tribes, Ayiri in joining APC seems to believe that Tompolo's demise will be his sole reign. Even where he is not asked a question, without giving any sort of evidence, Ayiri accuses Tompolo of the bombings in the Niger Delta. His desperation to implicate Tompolo is making many even go as far as to suspect him Ayiri, for the bombings.

It is my belief that neither Ayiri nor Tompolo are involved in the bombings. They are too wealthy to take such risks. There are too many jobless youths in the creeks and environs and guns and bombs too available to assume just these two men have the capacity to do damage. So why is Ayiri so hell-bent on framing Tompolo? If he has evidence, why does he not present it in all his interviews in the Itsekiri owned Vanguard who have turned themselves to Ayiri's scrotum scratchers?

James Ibori has done a lot to ensure peace in the Niger Delta and Warri to be precise. Uduaghan continued it. In fact, Uduaghan refused to run for Senate against the Ijaw James Manager not to heat up the polity. GEJ ensured Tompolo and Ayiri came to an understanding over the gas city before the commissioning. These politicians understand the need for peace. Many Itsekiri youths have taken the high road and supported Goodluck Jonathan despite his being Ijaw And Uduaghan got his two terms because Ijaws stood by him. This peace and understanding is today threatened because Ayiri wants to be the sole lord of the creeks.

It is why I am calling on the venerated Olu to call his chief to order. Ayiri is an Itsekiri chief, something that is difficult to attain. If Tompolo has problems with the government, he Ayiri is not the government. We cannot at this time afford for Ijaws to believe Itsekiris are against them. It is Ayiri that is against Tompolo. We must all ensure the greed and hate and aggrandizement and ambition of Ayiri does not plunge the state into a needless crisis. I cannot even finger the federal government because Buhari did not send Ayiri to do what he is doing. He has not been contracted as a vigilante or private security or pipeline watchman. He is acting like a vulture praying to feast on the carcass of Tompolo. He is the aggressor. Tompolo merely replies and guardedly. The papers are there as proof.

"Those who know Ayiri Emami should tell him that he should not plunge Warri into a needless war. Itsekiris and Ijaws have come too far and healed too much for him to begin this assault".

Let the Federal Government do their job. No one employed Ayiri as security. If he must accuse Tompolo of bombings, let him bring forth evidence or else shut his mouth and keep the peace.

The Olu should talk to him.

God bless Delta State.