NDDC: Tompolo Speaks On Outcome Of Meeting With Akpabio, Shifts Ground, Says He Cannot Be Compromised With Money

By Daniel Dafe, Abraka

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, has issued fresh statements after his meeting with the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, saying that he has decided to give peace a chance by withdrawing his 7-day ultimatum given to Akpabio to constitute the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

In a statement on Saturday, Tompolo said: ”I issued a seven-day ultimatum on the above subject matter on Monday May 31st 2021. There were a lots of concerns expressed by Nigerians on this matter within this period, hence machineries were put in place for consultations among Nigerians, especially from highly placed individuals and organizations from the Niger Delta region, including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

”As I expressed in my press statement of Monday May 31st 2021, I came into this matter because of love for the region and Nigeria. I make bold to say that I cannot be compromised by money and other material things.

”However, the only thing one can do for Nigeria in this trying times, where all the six geopolitical zones are in turmoil, is to pray to God for peace and tranquility, particularly for the economic hub of the country, the Niger Delta region.”

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According to him, this was the reason he welcomed the consultative meeting of Traditional rulers from the region, Delta State Government, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) led by its President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, leaders from the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and other nationalities with the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio in attendance, at the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oporoza town on Thursday June 3rd 2021.”

Speaking further, he said ”the outcome of the meeting has been made known to the public by the Minister,” adding that he (Akpabio) promised to start the process of the constitution and inauguration of the substantive board of the NDDC immediately (from Friday June 4th 2021), and that he should be allowed to drive the process to an end on or before the end of June 2021.

”As it stands now, I have accepted the outcome of the meeting reluctantly. It is pertinent to state at this juncture that, I do not want anything to disrupt the relative peace we are enjoying in the region. It was on this premise that I accepted the outcome of the meeting. The ultimate goal in this issue, is for the Minister to abide by the promise he has made to start the process of constituting the NDDC board now. Government shenanigans must be put away in this matter as constituting the NDDC board is very dear to the heart of the people of the region,” the statement added.

He thanked all traditional rulers for their fatherly role they played in the matter.

Continuing, he commended Chief E. K Clark, Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy, Barr Kingsley Brutu Otuaro, President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rare Admiral A. Hassan, leaders of the various ethnic nationalities for their solidarity and others for the role they played.