Ex-militant leader and Commander of defunct
Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government
Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, on Thursday stated that the federal government cannot
continue to harass and intimidate the people of the region with military might.
He maintained that what the Niger Delta requires now
is development and that monies used in the deployment of military and wares to
the region should be used for that purpose.
However, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), a
group which describes itself as a coalition of nine militant groups in the
region, yesterday warned the federal government to stay away from an alleged
proposed meeting with representatives of Tompolo.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his Media
Consultant, Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo advised President Muhammadu Buhari administration
to fund numerous projects, earmarked and ongoing, in the Niger Delta with money
used in deploying military for one exercise or the other in the region
According to the statement, "Our client, High
Chief Government Ekpemupolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, has advised the
President Buhari administration to fund numerous developmental projects
earmarked and ongoing in the Niger Delta region, particularly the coastal area
which is a very difficult terrain with money used to deploy military men and
wares as well as carry out military exercises such as operation Crocodile Smile
and Octopus Grip by the army and navy respectively.
"The continuous military deployment to the
region will not solve the problem of the age-long criminal neglect of the
region by government.”
Ekpemupolo noted that mere acknowledgement of underdevelopment
of the area by the federal government without strong political will to reverse
the tide will not solve the problems of the area.
He further said: "It must be pointed out that
mere acknowledgement of the fast deteriorating condition of the Niger Delta
region by government is not enough to solve the problems there, rather, the federal
government needs to put up a strong political will to address the issue of lack
of development in the region."
On the presence of military in the region,
Ekpemupolo said there were over 20 military houseboats in the creeks of
Gbaramatu kingdom alone, adding that so much is provided by the government in
taking care of the military men and wares in that region without achieving the
purpose they are being drafted to the area as the agitation for development of
the region continues on daily bases.
"Government cannot continue to harass and intimidate
the people of the region with military might. What the region needs is simply
development. And that is what the previous administration meant when it
established the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko,” he added.
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