Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has assured Nigerians of his team’s efforts to frustrate activities of economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region.
Tompolo, who is also the chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), the private maritime security firm engaged by the Federal Government to battle oil theft in the region gave the assurance over the weekend.
He spoke after being honoured with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Meritorious Award by the National President of the union, Chief Chris Isiguzo at Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-west local government area of Delta State.
Tompolo noted that Nigeria is in a dire strait and needs all support to cripple the activities of greedy saboteurs of the Nigerian oil and gas economy.
“I don’t have any other place, except Nigeria. Nigeria is the only country I have, so we must all join hands to protect and move Nigeria forward.
“Our economy is in dire need of survival, so we cannot fold our hands and allow some people to sabotage the nation’s economy because of greed”, he added.
On his part, Isiguzo said the award was in recognition of Tompolo’s outstanding contributions to the security of oil and gas infrastructure by curtailing oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
The NUJ president disclosed that the union’s leadership arrived at conferring the meritorious award on Tompolo at the last NUJ national security conference in Abuja after a meticulous deliberation on his activities and successes in tackling economic sabotage head-on.
He said Tompolo has set the pace for securing Nigeria from the throes of economic insecurity in the Niger Delta region and urged the media, other security operatives and agencies, as well as other Nigerians, to rally around him.
“Somebody had risen to the occasion and gathered an array of young men who have taken it upon themselves to help this country continue to survive as a peaceful nation, united and continuing to fend for its people.
“And that is the man who has, to a very large extent, substantially helped us address the issue of crude oil theft.
“That is one thing that has occupied our national life over time. But through his commitment, dedication, and diligence, Nigeria, as a country, had, to a very large extent, reduced the activities of men of the underworld who have consistently engaged in pilfering, taking our common patrimony for their own gains.
“NUJ, having assessed the activities of TSSNL, we decided that we must accord the necessary recognition to the man who carries the flag, who birthed this organisation, who has exceptionally distinguished himself, and who has been celebrated by Nigerians across all walks of life.
“NUJ is an institution that is distinguished. But there is a realm that Nigerians now look up to, and if this realm collapses, Nigeria will collapse. This realm is the oxygen of democratic governance; it is the reason Nigeria is still operating and why we are enjoying peace and harmony, and that is the media,” he said.
He enjoined journalists to keep contributing their quota by sharing intelligence with security agencies and operatives in order to engender tranquilly, peace, harmony, and progress in the country.
