I have no business with Avengers - Tompolo

Felix Igbekoyi, Independent newspaper reports from Asaba:

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), the Ibe-ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, has lamented the way and manner the military desecrated the traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

He has described it is oppression and intimidation of the peace loving people of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Tompolo further appealed to members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to embrace the Federal Government’s dialogue option as a way out of the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta region.

In a press statement signed by him at the weekend, he said that it was high time NDA stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region as dialogue is the only pragmatic means in resolving a crisis no matter huge and complicated such crisis is.

While believing fervently that government was serious and willing to end recurring crisis in the Niger Delta, he insisted he does not know NDA members and how to reach them except through the mass media.

According to him, one thing NDA may not be aware of is that they have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in giving birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within government circles who are rumour peddlers.

“As for the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, they have not known peace since you guys started the bombing of oil facilities as they have been harassed, intimidated, violated and invaded on daily basis by the Nigerian military under the guise of looking for members of your group (Niger Delta Avengers) and my humble self, who they have criminally and wickedly linked to the Niger Delta Avengers.

“Presently all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been disserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leaves the communities in shambles. Even till now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion.

“I have not heard and seen in any part of Nigeria, even the most volatile northeastern part of Nigeria, where Boko Haram has been killing innocent people, the bombardment and desecration of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

“Another dangerous dimension my traducers have introduced into this issue is the allegation that some of my closest men are coordinators of the Niger Delta Avengers. That Benji Ekeremor, Super and Owomor aka VIP are the coordinators of the Avengers. The truth of the matter is that I can no longer endure blackmail from my traducers, as I have seen that they are not resting on their oars, as they have vowed to implicate me by all means necessary. God forbid!

“To set the records straight, these are responsible men who have had skilled training under the Presidential Amnesty Programme that are currently using their acquired skills to eke out a living. The allegation that they are the coordinators of various axis of the Avengers is a malicious and mischievous one,” Tompolo said.