Ijaw Council of Elders also known as Ijaw (Izon) Okosu-Otu in Delta State have called on the Federal Government to prevail on the military to sheathe their swords and accept a political solution to the ongoing Tompolo saga as it relates to the recent oil pipeline vandalisations and corruption allegations for which a warrant of arrest was reportedly issued by a Lagos High Court on the ex-militant warlord.
The open letter read in parts:
Dated 19 January, 2016
Your Excellency,
Mohammadu Buhari,
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Rock,
Abuja.
Your Excellency,
PIPELINE ATTACKS: IJAW ELDERS SAY NO TO ANOTHER MILITARY INVASION OF GBARAMATU KINGDOM
The recent vandalization of oil installations in the Gbaramatu Kingdom area of the Niger Delta has massed up military presence with mounting apprehension of military invasion as happened in 2009. Already, there is a mass exodus of people from the communities creating huge refugee crisis in Warri and other communities. Again, at the centre is Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, projected as mastermind of the pipeline vandalisations.
As Elders, we condemn the recent oil pipeline vandalization but advise caution from a hasty conclusion on the mastermind for several reasons. We also feel a duty to caution other ethnic groups against actions that can ignite avoidable inter-ethnic uprising and suggest alternative way to the options available to the Federal Government for resolving the impasse.
A: WHY THE SEARCH FOR THE CULPRIT SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO TOMPOLO
1.While not holding brief for Tompolo, the ex-militant leader and contractor to the Federal Government had the backing of former President Goodluck Jonathan in policing the pipelines during which period he stepped on toes of many big time oil bunkerers across the nation. That way, oil production was raised to a record height. As one now in opposition party, could agents of the present ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) whose toes he stepped on, be fighting back with actions for smear campaign?
2.In what many believe to be an illegal move, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, reportedly froze the accounts of Tompolo and his companies. He had several youths in employment who are now jobless and frustrated. Could the frustrated youths, now free from Tompolo’s control, be venting their anger on Tompolo and the Federal Government?
3.Could those interested in Tompolo’s oil installations surveillance contract, have orchestrated this vandalism and blame it on Tompolo at this time of his travails with the EFCC? Tompolo himself cried out about this just before the pipeline vandalisations!
B: PROVOCATIVE INTERFERENCE OF PERSONALITIES OF NEIGHBOURING ETHNIC GROUPS UNFORTUNATE
It must be clearly noted that Tompolo had problem with a Federal Government agency and not with any ethnic group. We are therefore worried by the provocative interference of persons from neighbouring Itsekiri ethnic group who, having axe to grind with Tompolo over the years and KNOWN to be interested in his oil surveillance contract from time, is seen on front Page of Vanguard of Monday, January 18, 2016 with the military inspecting vandalized pipelines and granting interview on Channels TV on the issue. This interference from known rivals may ignite inter-ethnic crisis and should not be encouraged by security operatives interested in fostering inter-ethnic peace in the Warri area.
C: ARRESTING TOMPOLO NOW MAY BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE
Tompolo, having paid his dues in the struggle for emancipation of the Niger Delta, still enjoy mass followership who are sure to react to his avoidable humiliation, with dire consequences. This is not to say that Tompolo is above the law. We are afraid that events in the polity do not make attractive submission of self to arrests, which may have informed Tompolo’s decision to be at large. In 2009, when the conditions were ascertained right, Tompolo willingly gave himself up to accept the Federal Government amnesty deal. The manhunt for Tompolo, while it lasted in 2009, only left in its trail, burning of our communities, destruction of properties and raping of some women by soldiers of occupation and sundry vices. The supposed search for militants did not achieve any catch but plunder of innocent and defenseless people of Gbaramatu Kingdom and thousands of other Nigerians who lived therein. Let the Federal Government avoid a repeat.
D:THREAT TO ARREST IJAW ELDERS UNFORTUNATE
It is sad to note that Commanding Officers of the military in occupation threatened to arrest elders of the Ijaw communities where there was vandalization of oil installations. No such threat was issued to elders of communities in the North East where Boko Haram has held sway for years with sustained capacity for wrecking occasional and spectacular havocs on the populace till now. It should be noted that elders have words, not guns, to confront armed and angry youths and can only deploy words, to effect, only if the youths themselves believe the Federal Government would respect the words of the Ijaw elders. The seeming treatment that the Ijaw/Niger Delta is a conquered territory in the Nigerian nation is unfortunate and does not promote a sense of belonging.
E: POLITICAL SOLUTION AS WAY FORWARD
We repeat that we, Ijaw (Izon) Okosu-Otu (Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State, are not out here to hold brief for Tompolo. However, as elders, we have a role to play for peace. We appeal to the Federal Government to call on the military in occupation to sheathe their swords and accept a political solution to the ongoing Tompolo saga as it relates to the recent oil pipeline vandalisations and corruption allegations for which a warrant of arrest was reportedly issued by a Lagos High Court. Let there be reasonable time to work out the political solution. We cannot talk to our youths with guns on our heads.
We appeal to the Federal Government to work with the elders to achieve peace in the area.
May wisdom prevail!
Chief Bare Etolor
Chairman,
For and Behalf of Ijaw(Izon) Okosu-Otu
(Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State.
