The Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta (MEND) has called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the corruption
trial of one of its commanders, Government
‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo, saying he has the
capacity to stop the incessant blowing of
pipelines in the region.
MEND said Tompolo wills powerful influence in the
Niger Delta, and the suspension of the of the
charges brought against him by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will give him
room to restore peace to the region.
The ex-militant leader has severally denied
involvement with or affiliation to the Niger Delta
Avengers, the militant groul responsible for the
many attacks on oil installations in the past
months.
MEND has however submitted the final list of its
dialogue group, Aaron team 2, in a letter written to
the President.
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND) hereby submits the final list of
members of the Aaron Team 2 dialogue, peace and
development initiative inaugurated by MEND on
June 12, 2016 to find sustainable solutions to the
Niger Delta crisis,” the letter signed by the group’s
spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said.
“Mr. Odei Ajumogobia, who has unblemished
record, character and integrity and is widely
respected throughout the entire Niger Delta region,
is our chief negotiator in the proposed dialogue with
the federal government
“HRH King Alfred Papapreye Diette-Spiff was the
first military governor of the old Rivers state and is
currently, a 1st class traditional ruler in Bayelsa
state. He is the deputy leader of the Aaron Team as
well as the representative of the Niger Delta
Dialogue and Contact Group (NDDCG).
“However, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa from Cross
River state shall be representing all Bakassi
militant groups and aggrieved communities from
that axis of the Niger Delta, who see her as their
mother.
“Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara is in
the Aaron Team to represent Abia and Imo states.
He is widely respected across both states and shall
deploy his vast wealth of experience for the benefit
of the dialogue, peace and development initiative.
“High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s inclusion in
the final list was principally because of the key role
he continues to play in the Niger Delta as a notable
ex-militant leader; philanthropist; traditional title
holder and mobilizer of amazing capacity. It will
therefore be counter-productive if the federal
government ignored such an individual who may be
capable of talking to the militants in the creeks to
ceasefire.
“We are very much aware of the pending criminal
charges filed against Government Ekpemupolo by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC). However, we strongly advice that the
charge be suspended until after the conclusion of
the Aaron Team assignment. This is to ensure that
Mr. Ekpemupolo devotes his time, energy and
resources towards the resolution of the current
Niger Delta crisis without any fear of arrest,
intimidation or harassment.”
Meanwhile, the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) militant group has announced that it will declare the Niger Delta region as an independent republic on the 1st of August 2016.
The group said it had concluded arrangements with other militant groups to make the declarations.
Spokesman of the group, General Edmos Ayayeibo, its spokesperson, mandated the Federal Government to use the three weeks’ notice to “move out all military personnel and all government agencies out of the Niger Delta,” and warned that “failure will lead to destruction of military barracks and personnel.”
It also ordered all northerners and people of the South West to vacate its territory.
“If they refuse to heed to our warning, we will use so many as example in the Niger Delta region on the due date,” it said.
“We are telling the Nigerian government that enough is enough and we are taking our independence by force. We have our foreign backers, so we are not afraid of the Nigerian government but ready for total war,” the group said.
