The Mayor of Urhoboland and Head of the Association of Urhobo Mayoral Family Crown (AUMFC), Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as Akpodoro, has urged critics to set the records straight regarding the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).
Speaking to journalists in Abuja over the weekend, Akpodoro dismissed claims by the Niger Delta Committee for Transparency and Good Governance that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori influenced the contract in favor of Tantita for political reasons. The group had alleged that the governor betrayed Urhobo interests in exchange for political gains ahead of 2027.
Akpodoro described the allegation as “a lie from the pit of hell,” insisting that the contract was awarded to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) in 2022—long before Oborevwori assumed a position to influence such a decision.
While acknowledging that he has often criticized the governor for policies that he says have not favored Urhobo youths, Akpodoro stressed that the governor had no hand in the award of the surveillance contract.
Instead, he pointed fingers at the former Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, accusing him of hijacking the Urhobo slot through Zane Energy Services, a company allegedly owned.
“When that contract was awarded to Omo-Agege by proxy, I fought against it, but Urhobo youths kept silent while I remained the lone voice. Why then should such false allegations be directed at the governor, who is innocent in this matter?” Akpodoro asked.
He further argued that while Omo-Agege’s control of the contract yielded no tangible benefits for Urhobo youths, Tantita Security under Tompolo has become one of the largest employers of Urhobo youths, contributing more to their empowerment than even the state government.
Akpodoro called on the Federal Government to expand Tantita’s operational scope, praising the firm’s efficiency and commending the administrative leadership of High Chief Kestin Pondi, whom he credited with elevating the contract’s performance.
