‘The Ijaws Have No Business Being Politically Divided’ – Tompolo

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

With a princely demeanour, he carries himself with an enhanced aura of a knowing one, which also gives him some sort of ethereal fluidity that manifests an immeasurable confidence and a gracefulness with unmatched, personal gratitude.

His disposition is further wrapped in the quiet, unpredictable stride of a tactical war general, a poise he cherish and guard jealously like born princes; as he constantly maintains an immutable  quiet seemingly borne out of inner discipline, with all the tell tales of an apparent high mission.

Apparently a man amongst men, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo seldom speaks and is not known to be given to emotions or platitudes. Quiet, knowledgeable, bold, calculating, thorough and often deliberate in his actions; Tompolo’s actions and nuances are generally regarded as few local phenomenon’s that have defied academic logic.

Those who have studied him think that Tompolo is not a man of mean proportion. He has a name in Nigeria and in his ancestral Ijaw land that resonates across the world, a name and an identity he acquired by a dint of hard work favoured by divine and primordial arrangement.

By divine providence, an identity he has worked hard to preserve and keep unstained, an identity that serves country and citizens. But that is a matter for another day.

Recently, Tompolo was obliged to respond to the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu and the concomitant political developments that has followed.

In particular, Tompolo in his trade mark straightforwardness and audacity, severely reprimanded his fellow Ijaw kinsmen who he said accused him of standing aloof as treacherous state forces conspired to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State from office.

Labeling his accusers as political auctioneers, he  said those complaining didn’t give Fubara any chance to become the state governor during the elections, and in a rare demonstration of his patriotic credentials, said he was never aloof but rather has been working secretly to resolve the misunderstanding between Fubara and his predecessor and political godfather, Nyesome Wike.

While maintaining that reconciliation effort is ongoing to reunite Fubara with his political godfather, Tompolo called for support for President Tinubu; even as he  said Ijaws nationwide have no business being politically divided.

His reaction above is coming on the heels of the orchestrated planned disturbances in Bayelsa State, allegedly by some misguided and disgruntled Ijaws.

The former war lord and Niger Delta economic agitator and currently the chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Tompolo who broke his silence penultimate week on the state of emergency in Rivers State, assured that suspended Governor Fubara will return to office.

Tompolo who was speaking during his 54th birthday celebration held at Aziza Temple in Gbaramatu Kingdom debunked allegation by some people that he betrayed the Ijaw nation for allegedly remaining silent on the suspension of Fubara.

Disabusing the minds of all Ijaws home and abroad, Tompolo assured that something positive would emerge out of the ongoing dialogue to resolve the dispute between Wike and Fubara; noting that it is important for an Ijaw to serve out his term in office and not to suffer political humiliation.

His words: “Talks are ongoing to resolve the differences between both Wike and Sim Fubara. I have sat on the throne of my father and all that is lost will return to glory.  The Ijaws will never be conquered people. If the Ijaws choose to go to war, the heavens will join us.  I have never fought a battle and lost.”

A political tactician in his own right, Tompolo admonished the Ijaws to continue to make effort to recognize authority and to rally around President Tinubu as he navigates the nation’s challenging political landscape.

“Let’s continue to support President Tinubu, he will bring all the good things we desire to the Ijaw nation. He is not a bad person.”

Addressing his alleged silence about the political developments in Rivers State, he said: “On the issue in Rivers State, because I have not spoken, they said I have betrayed the Ijaw nation, but l cannot betray the Ijaw nation. I have spent all my life fighting for the Ijaw but we have passed the stage of responding to Wike’s kind of statement.  We are no longer at that level.

“I assure you that Governor Fubara will return as Governor.  We are already discussing.  Both he and Wike are like son and father.  Before he became governor, many Ijaws were against him, yet Wike was instrumental to his emergence, just like we also supported Wike.

“And just like l will not accept rebellion from my son, l will also not cause more problems.  Wike is angry, but he has to bring his temper down for the good of all.  We will dialogue and resolve all lingering issues, and again, Fubara will return to his seat.”

On the ugly political defiance in Bayelsa State authored by perceived disgruntled political actors, he urged them to behave and desist from turning against themselves in the overall interest of the Ijaws.

“But you see that Bayelsa, as we are all here, our eyes are there, that is our home.  If you try Bayelsa, you will die. I and Governor (Douye) Diri may differ in opinion, but we are Ijaws. Bayelsa is the home of all Ijaws.  Those who are still carrying guns against their fellow Ijaws, it’s time to love ourselves”, he waxed philosophical.