You Need me to Drive your Change Agenda in Niger Delta – Tompolo tells Buhari

Former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo in his latest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the president needs him to drive the “change agenda” in the Niger Delta region.

The letter was released on Friday, PUNCH reports.

“Your Excellency sir, it is instructive to state that you need me to drive this your change agenda in the Niger Delta region as I am ever passionate to improve the living condition of the people of the region,” he said.

He decried the harassment and intimidation of his father and brothers and close associates by the Nigeria Army, Navy and Department of State Services, DSS, in connivance with two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Ayiri Emami and Michael Johnny.

“The latest victims of this unwarranted, misdirected and wicked act are Simeon Bebenimibo, a member of the Delta State Waterway and Land Security Committee and a driver of one of my aides, Ebipade Kari, who was on an errand with a little baby. The baby was thrown away from the vehicle as the driver was beaten to pulp by your men.

That was not all; the military men stormed the house of one of my younger brothers and harassed his pregnant wife with guns. This has led to complications as a result of her current state. The two of them were arrested and are presently in the custody of the Nigerian Army, Effurun.

The military went to Kurutie town in search of my 84-year-old father and brutalised him. We managed to rescue him to Warri and hospitalised him. Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctor’s report, it will be a miracle if he survives this incident.

Is this 84-year-old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, that he was brutalised to the point of death? Will your Excellency accept this in good faith if this was done to your father or someone of this age in your family?

I have not heard of anyone that was treated like this even in the volatile North Eastern part of the country,” Tompolo stated

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the Maritime University, he said:

“Your Excellency sir, I only contributed to the development of the Nigerian Maritime University. I only agreed to sell my property; Mieka International Diving School structures (19 gigantic buildings of various sizes on 12 hectares of reclaimed land) for the quick and flawless take off of the university.

And it all went through due process. I never knew my goodwill and patriotism will lead me to where I am now. I have this burning desire to attract developmental strides to this difficult terrain, as it is the only thing for the people of the Niger Delta, particularly the coastal areas, to continue to have faith in Nigeria as the area has been neglected for so long.

You are being respected today because of your integrity and sincerity of purpose. Therefore, you need to consciously investigate the issues surrounding the establishment of the university,” he added.