The Ijaw Youths Network has cautioned those spreading lies against the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.
The IYN in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, on Friday urged those who have repeatedly associated High Chief Tompolo with a nonexistent stroke to desist immediately.
The youth body called on Nigerians to ignore the antics of a group of disgruntled individuals who have consistently displayed alarming pettiness over the issue of renewal of Tantita’s pipeline contract with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited.
The IYN noted that the public appearances of High Chief Tompolo during a festival at Ogulagha and others should properly inform the mischief makers that the Tantita Boss “is hale and hearty.”
Ebikabo and Ebiaridor urged those behind the mischief to desist saying Tompolo is too focused on the fight against oil theft to be distracted by cheap mischief by associates of oil thieves.
They also denied claims that the Tantita Chairman and the revered Itsekiri Monarch, the Olu of Warri are at each other’s throat.
The IYN noted that the tendency to play important personalities and institutions in the region against each for perceived economic gains will fail and should be discouraged at all times.
“For the records, the Tantita boss and his team are too focused in campaign against oil thieves and their sponsors to be distracted by fabrications from frustrated individuals who don’t mean well for the society.
“Recent arrests of rogue vessels such as MT Kali, illegally siphoning crude oil from Pennington Oil field of the Anglo-Dutch energy giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa State and many before them would suffice.
“Lastly, we wish to stress the point that there is no conflict between the revered Itsekiri Monarch, the Olu of Warri and Tompolo.
“The cheap mischief to set important personalities and institutions from the region against each other will continue to fail.”