Tompolo, Otuaro Focused on Socio-Economic Empowerment, Not Critics – Niger Delta Group Replies Ezekiel

By Bulou Kosin

A Niger Delta advocacy group, Advocacy for Niger Delta Development, ANDD, says the focus of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, is on educational and socio-economic empowerment of Nigerians, not on silencing critics.

The group, led by activist Moses Mala, was reacting to allegations by one Daniel Ezekiel who claimed that Tompolo was using resources from Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited to fund a private militia to violate human rights.

Dismissing the claim, Mala said the allegation lacked proof.

“Where is the proof of the militia? Is it Tantita’s workforce that works with legitimate security operatives? What did Tompolo leverage on when he led massive volunteers in long years of agitation for the freedom of his people before the Federal Government Amnesty deal in 2009? Were Tantita resources available then?” Mala queried.

He said the admiration Tompolo and Otuaro enjoy in the Niger Delta stems from their leadership style and contributions to regional development.

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According to him, both leaders are not distracted from their core goals which include educational support for indigent students, sustaining higher staff pay within surveillance companies compared to industry standards, and supporting general security in the region.

“While we wait for Daniel Ezekiel to prove allegations he once stoutly defended, we know Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd with Dr. Kestin Pondi as Managing Director, has posted visible, measurable results, hence improving Nigeria’s and Niger Delta’s economy,” Mala said.

He added that calls for decentralization of the pipeline surveillance contract, which he said was already decentralized from inception by Tompolo, were being pushed by agents who want to destroy Nigeria’s economic gains.

Mala also defended Dr. Otuaro against what he described as unverified criticisms by individuals including Cletus Kwalekeme and Jude Gbabojor.

“Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, who is proving to be an embodiment of education, is iconic in advancing best quality education within Nigeria and abroad, for educationally downtrodden Ijaw and Niger Delta people.

“Otuaro’s engagement of Dr. Bolatei Igali, Prof. Ben Binebai and Annkio Briggs to talk to Amnesty students on their focus before departing Nigeria recently, was visionary leadership,” he said.

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