NDIMRC Slams Gov Fubara Over Controversial One-man Pipeline Contract’s Utterances

The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement For Radical Change (NDIMRC) has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for his comments regarding the crude oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services, led by former militant leader High Chief Government Ekpemepulo, also known as Tompolo.

The group believes that the governor’s statement suggests a lack of understanding of the situation.

Governor Fubara expressed his disapproval of awarding the contract to “one man,” stating that it was wrong to allow an individual to have control over assets in another person’s territory.

However, the NDIMRC argues that the decision to award the contract to Tompolo’s security service is not without merit.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that as a former militant leader, Tompolo has influence and knowledge about the region’s security challenges hence government’s decision to award the contract to his security service reportedly based on the belief that he is well-equipped to handle the task of protecting the pipelines and preventing oil theft and vandalism.

However, the oil and gas monitoring group, said that the Governor was not being fair to the people of the Niger Delta Region and other stakeholders and implored President Bola Tinubu to be wary of the Governor and also call him to order now for interest of peace.

In an open letter to President Tinubu, the group expressed shock over the utterances of the Rivers State Governor, saying that his words were capable of disrupting the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta Region.

They argued that since the pipelines Surveillance Contract was awarded by the administration of former President Mohammadu Buhari to Tompolo, the region has known peace and crude oil thieves milking the nation dry put under control.

The open letter signed by Nelly Emma, John Sailor, and Stanley Mukoro, President, Secretary, and Public Relations Officers respectively of NDIMRC, said that while illegal oil dealers are enemies of the country, mischief-makers and crude oil thieves are actively working to prevent renewal of the contract because it has crumbled their illicit empires.

“We hate to believe that the Governor of Rivers is encouraging these enemies of the nation who are stealing our crude oil for selfish reasons”.

“Mr President, we must say that we were shocked by the utterances of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 when he played host to high powered Federal Government delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

“His words are capable of generating bad blood among the peace loving people of the Niger Delta Region. We have been wondering since he said such things if the Rivers State Governor is a beneficiary of crude oil thieves in the Region because it is only those romancing with crude oil thieves and enemies of the country could have made such a very sensitive statement at a time when Tompolo through his company, Tantita has been able to chase away crude oil thieves from our Creeks.

“It should be made clear that Tantita is just a coordinator of the good job that Tompolo is doing as every community handle their own job and Mr President, this has brought peace to everyone and we are not going to allow the Rivers State Governor to cause bad blood among the people”.

Furthermore, the group said; “The Rivers State Governor MUST not be allowed to destroy the good work of the Federal Government. The Governor of Rivers State know very well that before Tantita, people were unable to dry their clothes openly in Rivers state as a result of the activities of crude oil thieves, but all that has been checked and changed by Tompolo and Tantita.

“Let it be known that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is one of the beneficiaries of Tantita, the records are there for all to see. Before the contract was awarded to Tompolo, the current governor of Rivers State and other stakeholders were aware of it and commended it. Why is the Governor singing a different song now? Has the Governor compromised his conscience to oil crude thieves in the Region?

“The Governor should be grateful to Tantita and he should also be happy that he was visited on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 by the Federal Government team even though he was RUDE to members of the team.

“We want to let the President and the whole world know that Tompolo means well for our nation and those kicking against the renewal of his pipeline surveillance contract are out to frustrate the efforts of a selfless man who is opposed to the selfish interests of a few as against the general interests of the nation and the people,” they said.

They further wrote that; “Some disgruntled ex-militants who are opposed to the contract awarded by former President Buhari are working hand-in-hand with those stealing our oil and they have vowed to ensure that the pipeline contract to Tompolo is not renewed. Mr. President, these people do not mean well for your administration and the Nigerian people, and we are pleading with you not to listen to them”.

“Mr President, the former militant groups who are urging you against renewing the contract for Tompolo do not mean well for your administration. Oil production data has shown that renewing the contract for Tompolo is in the interest of the country’s economy.

“We want to commend how Tompolo-led Tantita has helped to beat oil bunkerers to their own game, because oil production has gone up and more money has been generated by the Federal Government, thanks to the relentless efforts of Tompolo.

“The pipeline surveillance contract is also germane to growing peace that has engendered unhindered oil exploration and exploitation activities across the areas. We are satisfied with his protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure, eradication of oil bunkering, and increased generation of internal revenue and therefore the Federal Government should go ahead and renew his pipelines surveillance contract and the likes of the Rivers state Governor who are entitled to their rights and opinions should not be listened to”, they wrote in the open letter.

“Finally, Mr President, all the Tank Farms visited by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Ribadu and his team on Saturday in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State should be investigated properly. We have our reasons for saying that the searchlight should be beamed on them.

“Also, the Ship loaded with crude oil and recently freed by the Navy should be probed. We do not want these matters that we have raised to be swept under the carpet, otherwise, we will be forced to publish what we have at our disposal in foreign media and the whole world will know that this administration is not serious in the fight against corruption.

“Mr President, thanks for your attention and hoping you will do the needful for the interest of the nation and the people”, the letter added.