From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, King Obukowho Monday Whiskey JP., Udurhie I, and Chairman of the Hoscon Traditional Rulers and Elders Advisory Council, has condemned what he describes as a sinister plot by enemies of Nigeria aimed at destabilizing key Niger Delta security initiatives.
The monarch revealed that there are coordinated efforts to undermine the operations of Tantita Security Services Limited, led by High Chief (Dr.) Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as well as the efforts of Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the traditional ruler expressed concern over ongoing media campaigns and what he termed calculated attacks intended to discredit these leaders.
He stated, “The orchestrated media assault against Tompolo and Tantita Security Nigeria Limited is a blackmail tactic designed to weaken their efforts, potentially allowing crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism to resurface in the region.”
The monarch emphasized that the same campaign is targeting Dr. Otuaro, who is committed to repositioning the Amnesty Programme for the benefit of Niger Delta stakeholders and Nigeria as a whole.
He called on critical stakeholders and patriotic Nigerians to speak out in support of efforts that promote national interest over the selfish motives of those who have thrived in illegal oil activities.
“Critical Niger Deltans stakeholders and other patriotic Nigerians must speak out if our national interest is indeed more important than those of few elements who have lived all their lives in Pipeline vandalism and crude theft business in the Niger Delta.
“The repositioning ongoing in the Presidential Amnesty Programme is not only visible but is indeed transformative for even the blind to see.
He highlighted the tangible achievements of Tantita Security Services, including environmental restoration, the return of aquatic life, and the improvement of water quality.
“The federal government under the leadership of HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not cave in to these well designed orchestrated campaigns as doing so will be returning the Niger Delta region into the dark era of Pipeline Vandalism and coordinated crude theft.
“The federal government has its evaluation procedure to know if the affected Government appointee and the Pipeline Security Company is living up to its assigned duties and nobody has appointed these agents of darkness as monitoring authorities.
Udurhie warned that any plot to discredit or undermine Tompolo and Otuaro could have dire consequences, risking regression into the chaos of pipeline vandalism and oil theft.
The traditional ruler urged the federal government not to succumb to these orchestrated campaigns, asserting that the ongoing reforms in the Niger Delta are visible and transformative.
“Their plans which are well noted include blackmail against Tompolo and Otuaro before the federal government so that they return back to their illicit business.
“As a critical stakeholder in the Niger Delta Programme, I am very convinced that the federal government and the appointing and supervising agencies are comfortable with the high level achievements of Tantita Security Services Limited in many areas.
“From the restoration of habitable environments to the return of aquatic lives, from clean water bodies to environmental restoration. Any plots to instigate the federal government and its agents against Tompolo and his Tantita Security company will surely be an evil wind that will blow no good to anybody.
He called for support and recognition of the efforts of Tantita Security and the Amnesty Programme, emphasizing their positive impact on the region’s environment and economy.
The monarch commended Tompolo and Otuaro, recalling the dire state of the Niger Delta prior to their leadership, and urged that they be commended rather than vilified for their contributions to regional stability and environmental health.
“Rather than castigate Tompolo and Otuaro, they should be commended, because we were living witnesses to the sorry state of our economy and environment before the advent of Tantita Security Services Limited”, he added.