Sequel to the statement credited to a group, Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youths Leaders led by one Collins Idowu who advised the federal government to allow the conventional security apparatus to protect the oil facilities in the Niger Delta region in lieu of the current arrangement which contracted the surveillance security to Tantita Security Services, the Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro has described the group’s call as ill motivated, tendentious and self serving for the footsoldiers of oil thieves in the region.
According to Mayor Akpodoro who in his reaction to the group’s call in Abuja, said the ‘footsoldiers’ of oil thieves are never tired of devising ways to render oil facilities vulnerable for attacks “so that while they (oil thieves) smile to the banks, the Nigerian economy bleeds and cripples.
The Mayor noted that the TSSNL remains the best thing to happen to Nigeria since the Mele Kyari-led Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, took the bold decision to cede the security of oil facilities in the country to private companies to forestall sabotage by those he described as nebulous elements within the ranks of the nation’s security apparatus.
He stated further that while they were entrusted with the protection of the facilities in the past they turned such a supposed national assignment to a cash-cow due to dearth of patriotism and national solidarity, a development he noted necessitated the engagement of TSSNL and others.
Since TSSNL assumed the protection of the pipelines, Akpodoro maintained that the nation has witnessed tremendous progress and stable increase in crude production without falling shot of its oil quota at the international market wondering why an unknown group ostensibly holding brief for wheelers and dealers in oil theft will summon such courage to make what he described as a vainful case for those he said thrusted Nigeria high among nations bedeviled by illicit oil trade.
With TSSNL, Mayor Akpodoro noted, the economic saboteurs in the creeks of the Niger Delta region are in trouble, its better they stop whining but go into legitimate business lest they are caught, named and shamed by the Chief Government Ekpemukpolo a.k.a Tomopolo owned security firm.
Additionally, Akpodoro noted that the Idowu-led group goofed in its description of Tompolo as a militant, saying such description speaks to the ignorance of the leadership of the so-called Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders.
He stressed that, as against the lies retailed by the group, Tompolo is a critical stakeholder and a well respected one at that in the Niger Delta who relishes integrity, moral probity, excellent ideas and excellent teamwork spirit, a goal getter who is not given to frivolities like the group subjected itself.
To every well meaning Niger Deltan, the Mayor noted that Tomopolo is a top-notch in all he does, a reason he said leaves him as the most enviable, most viciously attacked and vilified for reason of his impeccable records and achievements “which many wish for but may not achieve even in ten lifetimes.”
“Ordinarily, such unknown group doesn’t deserve our response but for the need to set the record straight and particularly for the reason to sensitise, enlighten and educate the uninformed about the person and character of Tomopolo.
“Since TSSNL assumed the security of the oil pipelines, stealing has been deliberately whittled down, oil thieves are on the run, they are crying and wailing and that’s why their errand boys are on the street maligning the Chief Executive Officer of the security firm that has declared total war against the economic saboteurs who are their paymasters.
“At this point, I call on the security agencies in the country, including the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, to the President to beam searchlight on the activities of the unknown recalcitrant group led by Idowu who came from the blues to incite the youths of the Niger Delta region against Tomoplo and TSSNL whose efforts and achievements in the war against oil theft remain unparalleled. The activities of that group should be thoroughly investigated,” Akpodoro stated.
