The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday said it is set to confer a national merit award on a former militant commander in the Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
The honour, according to the national leadership of the NUJ, would be in recognition of Tompolo’s contributions to the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta and the success recorded in the war against crude oil theft and pipelines vandalism.
According to a statement , the National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, said this during a visit to Tompolo at Oporoza Community, Warri South West LGA, Delta State, during the weekend.
He said the formal presentation of the award to Tompolo would take place during the forthcoming annual conference of the association in Abuja, in February.
Isiguzo led some national leaders of the association, including National Secretary, Mr. Shuaibu Leman, as well as state and local chapter leaders of NUJ to the meeting.
Isiguzo, while briefing Tompolo and his aides, said in arriving at the decision, the NUJ profiled the activities of the former militant, especially his involvement in the restoration of a lasting peace in the region.
The NUJ leader said Tompolo contributed largely to the relative peace in the hitherto war-ravaged oil-rich region.
Also, Isiguzo hailed Tompolo for his relentless commitment to put an end to the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other sharp practices associated with exploration of crude oil and production as well as transportation of petroleum products.
According to the NUJ president, Tompolo, through the instrumentality of his pipelines surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), the nation’s waterways have become a nightmare for criminal elements and economic saboteurs.
Isiguzo recalled some giant strides recorded by TSSL under the leadership of Tompolo in the manhunt for the oil buccaneers and illicit oil barons along the nation’s waterways, especially the recent arrest of MT Kali, illegally siphoning crude oil from Pennington Oil field of the Anglo-Dutch energy giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa State.
He said the NUJ aligned with other stakeholders within and outside the country, who have poured encomiums and accolades on TSSL and its operators for satisfactorily performing its oversight functions over the surveillance and protection of the nation’s economic assets.
“The NUJ also acknowledges the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta for which you have played pivotal roles. For these significant contributions you have made towards the nation’s growth and development, the NUJ has decided to honour you with one of our prestigious awards,” he said.
Responding, Tompolo, who was joined to receive the NUJ delegation by a former member of Bayelsa State House Assembly, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4, Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei and his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, expressed gratitude to the NUJ for the honour accorded.
The ex-militant leader said he was elated that a strategic stakeholders in the Nigeria project such as NUJ has recognised and appreciated his contributions to national development and singled him out for the award.
Tompolo assured the NUJ and Nigerians that the award would spur and trigger him to do more for the country.
Members of the NUJ on the entourage of the national president included: The immediate past Chairman of Delta State Council, Michael Ikeogwu; a senior journalist, Sola Adebayo and Chairman of Warri Correspondent Chapel of NUJ, Mr. Okies Vicky-Okpomor.
Also present were: Vanguard Correspondent, Akpokona Omafuaire, THISDAY newspaper’s Sylvester Idowu and Mr. Gbenga Ahmed of Independent Television (ITV), Benin City.
