Many have begun to beat drums that they themselves cannot dance to. Another round of violence will do our people and state no good. Whatever it is that can lead to violence must be nipped in the bud. Already the press and social media have brought the knife of division. The peace and progress these communities, especially their leaders have enjoyed is threatened, not as much as real actions of these people, but by the rumour mongers and minstrels.
The minstrels have begun to say “when GEJ was in power, Tompolo enjoyed. Now that it is Buhari, Ayiri must enjoy as APC”. The question I ask these people is that is anyone stopping anyone from enjoying? However, for us who love our state and value lives, we ask both leaders and these minstrels to know that it is mostly rumours that decrease the peace. If Ayiri is seen with the army going round oil facilities, what this means is that Ayiri Emami is showing the army the damage. The army even went ahead to say community leaders will be held accountable for destructions in their area. Ayiri Emami is a chief of the Itsekiri palace and a recognized youth leader. He ought be in the entourage that inspects damage.
As to Tompolo, we know the army will try all means to get to him, including massacre of the communities. For someone we KNOW is not bombing pipelines (he has too much to lose) and who was a business man at worst and not a terrorist or militant these last five years, the feckless and reckless action by the Federal Government to chase after him, when the Olu Falaes in principle will not return money, instead of the Federal government to face elected officers and also simply try Tompolo in absentia and freeze his money without trying to start a war, I see they are determined to spill more blood.
The Ijaw nation will always have warriors as long as oil is profitable, our creeks uncharted and guns readily available. Taking out Tompolo will even be counter-productive, eg Lybia and Ghadafi, Saddam Hussein and Iraq. But of course, Buhari is determined to show his might and bloodlust.
Speaking of bloodlust, my own is that between Chief Ayiri Emami and Tompolo Government, they must increase the peace. None should be used against the other and none should assume the other is being used against them. For those seeking to show either Ayiri and Tompolo their “loyalty” for pecuniary gains or tribal reasons or for whatever reasons STOP! INCREASE THE PEACE instead.
Let the Federal Soldiers enter their boat and go and look for Tompolo themselves, or better still, use planes bought by Niger Delta oil and bomb any community they suspect Tompolo is hiding. The peace between us must remain.
Let the enemies come from without.
