News
I Didn’t Mastermind Abduction Of 14 Journalists —Tompolo
Ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, has described the allegation that he masterminded the abduction of 14 journalists in the creeks of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, as untrue and misleading.
Tompolo, in a statement, said: “It has become necessary to make this clarification in the face of the deliberate distortion of facts by some mischief makers bent on denigrating my person and questioning my integrity before the larger society.
“More so, I am persuaded by the fact of my experience as a crusader for equity, fairness and justice the world over including the oppressed people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, who have always found brotherliness and companionship in members of the fourth estate of the realm.
“In the case of the Ijaw of the Niger Delta which I have championed over the years, journalists have been worthy partners even as their contributions have served as veritable means to ventilate our views, opinions and positions as a people who have had cause to draw global attention to our plight.
“However, in the matter of the hyped ‘abduction’ of journalists in Oporoza last week, it is pertinent to state that they were victims of an orchestrated and well-rehearsed saga by their Itsekiri clients, who lured them into a trap. Suffice it to say that unknown to the journalists (some of whom are my friends) and before their arrival in Warri, their Itsekiri hosts had concluded plans to video-capture some Ijaw settlements, especially Ikpokpo community, to show to the world as Itsekiri lands in their desperate attempt to distort historical facts, especially as the hosting/siting of the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project poses some challenges.
“It should be noted that the Gbaramatu people have been agitating for inclusion in the EPZ project since 2012, as of right, that the part of the land earmarked for the project starting from Ikpokpo community belongs to them.
“It was on the strength of the above that in November 2013, the Gbaramatu people were invited alongside other stakeholders, to the unveiling meeting of the project at Government House Annex Warri by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the state government. At the said meeting, the Gbaramatu people, out of curiosity, inquired why they have not been recognised as stakeholders by way of acquisition of land from them. But to their surprise, the governor shut them out of the project and merely identified them as ‘impacted community.’”
”Competition has started again” – Reactions trail Regina Daniels and co-wife, Laila’s posts about their husband, Ned Nwoko
“Only self!sh men are intimidated by women’s success, you should be happy that your woman is successful” – Actress Diva Gold to men
“She forms hard to get, but I slept with her the first day I came to her office” – IVD makes bombshell revelation on his relationship with Blessing CEO (Video)
“There’s hunger, however there’s huge” hope – Tinubu Lament
“Simon Ekpa is not our member” – IPOB stated
“God is still in the business of doing wonders, please keep trusting God” – Emotional moment gospel singer Yinka Alaseyori serenades actress Dayo Amusa who gave birth to her first child at 41 years (Video)
Diddy claims prosecutors showed judge edited Cassie video to make him look dangerous
“They don’t look so happy” – Reactions trail video of Chioma and Hailey at Davido’s concert
-
News2 days ago“There’s hunger, however there’s huge” hope – Tinubu Lament
-
News2 days ago“This is m@dness” – Young man disrupts the peace inside banking hall as he plays song using his JBL speaker, clip trends online (Watch)
-
Biafra2 days agoFG confirms arrest of Simon Ekpa by Finnish authorities
-
Lifestyle2 days agoNigerian man who passed away 10 years ago confesses he’s currently in Lagos, reveals big secret