The Mayor of Urhoboland who is also an ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta region, South-South Nigeria has commended Tantita Security Services Nig Ltd and its Chairman, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo a.k.a Tompolo for the construction of an ultra modern transit accommodation for soldiers of 3 battalion, Nigerian Army in Effurun, Warri, Delta state.
The Mayor who spoke to journalists on the sideline of the inauguration of the state-of-the-art facility on Tuesday by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Samal Abdussalam, commended the initiative of the security firm owned and managed by Tompolo saying it is a feat worthy of emulation by well-meaning Nigerians.
He noted that citizens should take a cue from the Chairman who he described as a role model to his generation. He stressed that until the citizens contribute their quota in the growth and development of the society, the government may not be able to do it alone.
The facility is to serve Army personnel who are on transit in the state and beyond, a development Akpodoro said would ease the hardship faced by soldiers who are posted in and around the Niger Delta region as he called on the military institution to maintain the facility for it to last long for the use of all.
The monument, the mayor noted, is first of its kind in sub-Sahara Africa built by a private firm to support the efforts of the federal government in providing security for all.
Tompolo, the ‘GOC’ as fondly called by his admirers, according to Mayor Akpodoro, has demonstrated to the Nigerian public and the global community that it is plausible to give back to the society noting that only a public spirited entity could do what the Ijaw High Chief has done in a society where the military is seen as the peoples’ enemy.
He said the military deserve such facility to give much better meaning to their lives and enhance their operations maintaining that, the military deserves the support of all for it to discharge its duty professionally for a better and more secured Nigerian society.
According to the Mayor who leads the Association-of Urhobo Family Crown incorporated: “I was personally shocked while taking a walk round the ultra modern facility of a world-class standard built by a private citizen for the nation’s military.
“Although, I wasn’t surprised because Tompolo, as a pan-Nigerian nationalist and a statesman, has the good conscience to build such a facility for the country’s military. However, it’s the first of its kind in our clime, and to this end, I commend him in no little measure.
“The Chairman of Tantita has demonstrated sufficient solidarity to the Nigerian state, particularly in the area of the protection and security of our country’s oil and gas assets from being stolen by those who relish oil theft.
“Since the contract for the security surveillance of the oil pipelines was awarded to him by the former administration, the country has witnessed considerable progress in the security of petroleum products in the Niger Delta.
“With clinical efficiency, our GOC has tightened the noose around local oil thieves and their foreign collaborators and has shown that the security of the oil pipelines in the country is not impossible including winning the war against oil theft.
“Most oil thieves are currently out of their illicit business as they no longer smile to the banks at the detriment of the nation’s economy.
“It is also trite to commend the Managing Director of the of the firm, Chief Kestin who saw to the success of the project. There’s no gainsaying the fact that the MD leads a management team that is productive and goal getting. Nigerians should expect more from the Kestin-led administration. ”
Akpodoro called on the youths of the region to shun crimes and criminalities in order for foreign investors to make the region their destination.
“Our region must be investment friendly, and to do this, our youths must eschew all forms of crimes and criminalities to give way for peace. It’s only in a peaceful atmosphere that a nation can grow and develop. Our ‘GOC’ is already leading by example, and we, his followers, must follow the good examples he is laying.”
Recall that, since the declaration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP by the administration of the late President Musa Yar’dua, Mayor Akpodoro has been in the vanguard of peace building in the Niger Delta region working closely with the Nigerian military institution to get rid of criminal elements particularly leading the war against oil theft.
