Canada- based Nigerian politician and
High chief, Ogbeh Onokpite caused
a stir recently as the Niger Delta
war raged by calling for a probe of two
prominent persons from the zone.Onokpite
made a shocking claim to journalist wen
he alleged that Delta State
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan government
pays militant leader of camp 5, Chief
Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo
N100 million every month through
accounts of the Delta state Oil
Producing Areas Development Commission,
DESOPADEC. The money, according to Chief
Onokpite which amounts to N1.2billion is
used by the militant leader to runs his
camp and work for Governor Uduaghan and
Ibori.These are grave allegations
indeed.Amazingly, the state government
has so far failed to respond
appropriately.Interestingly too, the
federal government seems to be looking
the other way despite the grave
issues raised by Chief Onokpite.
Speaking to Journalists on phone from his base in Canada, Onokpite, who
was the governorship candidate of the
Citizens Popular Party, CPP, in the 2007
gubernatorial elections in Delta state
called for the immediate investigation
of Delta state governor Uduaghan and his
predecessor, James Ibori for their
alleged role in fueling the Niger Delta
crisis.In his view, this is the best way
to get to the root of the issue.
According to Onokpite, “ Tompolo is
Uduaghan’s boy who was used to
destabilize the administration of former
president Olusegun Obasanjo. They used
Tompolo to scare OBJ who was made to
believe that only Ibori could talk to
him t release white hostages held by
Tomplo during the the Ibori ex-convict
saga”
Onokpite pleaded with president Yar’Adua
to show sincerity and political will in
resolving the current conflict in he
Niger Delta by putting the pressure on
Uduaghan to produce Tompolo. He
disclosed further that the wanted
militant leader had been working with
Uduaghan for the past six years and
called on the ethnic nationalities
including the Urhobos, Itsekiris, Ijaws
and Kwales to love one another and live
in peace.
Chief Onokkpite urged the
president to direct the Joint Military
Task Force, JTF, to halt the ongoing
military offensive and cease fire. “It’s
just some few bad leaders in the state
who are benefiting that are causing the
crisis. The federal government should
set a panel to investigate the role of
Ibori and Uduaghan in the crisis” he
said.
The former governorship candidate
also disclosed that Ibori and Uduaghan
are allegedly using their contacts at
the presidency to curtail what they
perceive as the growing influence of the
Ijaw in the region to pave the way
for the emergence of Ibori as Vice
President of Nigeria in 2011. Onokpite
further alleged, that Tompolo who had
been enjoying Uduaghan’s protection
erroneously believed that the Delta
state governor
would protect him in last week’s
confrontation with the JTF.
According to the Urhobo Chief, the
confidence of Tompolo in Uduaghan stems
from the fact that the
governor had in the past given his
brother staff of office as a king in
Ijawland and also made his younger
brother chairman of Warri – South local
government . Onokpite also
reiterated his plea with President
Yar’Adua to halt in the military
offensive that has killed many women and
children in the oil – bearing region.
Though his call may easily be dismissed
as the rantings of an opponent, the
issued raised appear quite
fundamental.Will the FG act now?
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