Niger Delta: How FG made Tompolo • The OBJ connection • JTF destroys militants’ camp in Rivers

A fresh insight into the reported wealth of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpomupolo (Tompolo) emerged at the weekend.
Details of the revelations contradict the widely held belief that the wanted militant leader made his fortune from illegal bunkering operations alone. Contents of minutes of meetings between representatives of the militant leader and oil companies as well as working agreements, including those reportedly brokered by the Federal Government, are to the effect that Tompolo indeed had an understanding with the Federal Government prior to 2007.

Nigerian Tribune can report authoritatively that former President Olusegun Obasanjo directed most of such meetings where healthy relationships between Tompolo and oil concerns operating in the region were allegedly consummated. A highly placed security source told the Nigerian Tribune that Tompolo’s source of wealth could not be restricted to illegal oil bunkering.

This development is coming as the South-South Youth Conference has raised a fresh alarm that the elite class in the Niger Delta region, particularly politicians, may take an undue advantage of the current face-off between the JTF and the militants in the region.“At a point the boy was becoming very stubborn and the reason given by his men each time they met with some of us was that the indigenes were left out even in the lowest level of services required by the oil companies.

Read the rest in the update column.
There is an Igbo adage which says' 'onye mu na ya na-chu muo, tughariri si m na ukwu di m ka nke ndi muo' meaning literally someone who I was pursuing a spirit turned and said that my legs are like that of the spirits.
They go behind the door to make the militants, give them all the empowerment to unleash terror then come out to tell us they are criminals. More like the case of Osama bin Laden and the US.
We know that both the FG and the so called freedom fighters are insincere. Both of them are interested in how they will protect the source of their loot. It is no longer news that the federal govt has failed in her responsibility to the Niger delta indigenes. It is only the federal govt of Nigeria that will allow her citizens to be exposed to such toxic atmosphere as they are. They are treated lower than animals because if such happens to animals in any other part of the world, the animal right activists will not sleep until it is sorted out. But in Nigeria, the officials of the government will receive money and look the other while foreign nationals treat their citizens like dirt. They subject the citizens to sub-animal conditions. It is only in Nigeria that human beings are expected to live in an environment where even fishes and snakes find too toxic to live in. The federal government will look the other way. The reps will pocket $314, 000(N20,000, 000) every four months for doing nothing excluding under the table bags of money which come from oil companies that are looking for juicy contracts or from Aso Rock for God knows what. The federal government has failed in her responsibility.

The FG apart, what about the leaders from the region who used this boys for their selfish ambition? It is no longer news that the first weapon used by most of this militants were the ones bought for them by politicians who used them to rig elections and later refused to fulfil the terms of their agreement. The militants then being opportunist when they could not get their bargain capitalised on the state of the region to unleash mayhem on the people they claim to fight? Isn't that ridiculous? That is sheer hypocrisy. The so called freedom fighters are only fighting for their pockets. In an interview, Asari ones said that Ateke was tired of fighting; that he wants to come to town and enjoy his money. Which money? How did he make the money? Kidnapping, bunkering ..? Yes they are criminals but they were made by the government. This is one case of lab experiment gone out of control. The monster they created has come out to hunt them. It is pathetic that two elephants are fighting and the grasses are bearing the brunt. We can say no to this injustice. It happens every state in the country. It is only a matter of time before the whole country will be on fire. God forbid you will say? That is only if you forbid!

I know that without proper structure on ground, even the so called resource control will not solve the issue as it will pitch the communities against themselves.
Our leaders have failed us.
Give them what is their due. Use sincere diplomacy and plug all loopholes.
Nigeria will rise some day!