SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, (THEWILL) – Chief Ayiri Emami, Itsekiri activist and businessman, has described ex-MEND leader, Government Ekpemupolo Tompolo, as a drowning man who is only doing everything possible to wriggle himself out of the crime to which he is being investigated by the EFCC.
Emami said that Tompolo has further vindicated him about being the mastermind of several pipeline attacks saying that he (Tompolo) is the only “creek warlord” who could possibly engineer a militant group like the Niger Delta Avengers to wreaking havoc on oil installation at a time the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC are after him.
THEWILL recalls that Tompolo, who has been under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had recently attributed his travails with the federal government to Ayiri Emami, alleging that the continuous military siege on Oporoza, his hometown in Gbaramatu Kingdom and its environs was Emami’s handwork.
But Emami, in a statement made available to THEWILL, on Tuesday, said that accusations by Tompolo directed at him were a diversionary tactics tailored to deceive the Federal Government that he (Tompolo) was not the one aiding the renewed militancy in the region whereas all fingers and security reports are obviously pointed at him.
“All Tompolo has been doing is blame game and making wide allegations against those who had openly opposed his antecedent in the region instead of coming out boldly to face the law like others currently under investigations by the EFCC,” Emami said.
He alleged that Tompolo was actually the one using the Avenger’s group to perpetrate the crimes in the region to blackmail the federal government and NNPC to meet their demands which includes the re-award of the pipeline surveillance contract which he was handling during the Jonathan administration.
Emami reiterated that the activities of the group which first became public after Tompolo was declared wanted are evident that Tompolo was behind them.
“The witch cried in the night and the child died in the morning, what does that connotes? Those who knows the history of the Niger Delta armed struggle knows that such attacks by the marauding militants are spontaneous to when a prominent leader of their area is under serious manhunt.
“This is not the first time they are attacking federal government installations in reaction to manhunt for their leaders. Once they strike a militant group immediately takes credit but behind the scene they plan the attack to force the government into doing their bidding.
“If you read between the lines of Tompolo statement in recent times, including when he gave directives to multinationals to commence repair work and that if not for his travails, the perpetrators of the attack were too little for him to smoke out, you would understand that he acted like a Bigfoot who knows more than we think and he knows the perpetrators, even their plans before it is carry out.
“When we say he has a hand in all that is currently happening, he said we are fighting him but alas the Niger Delta Avengers also came out to say he was trying to lord over them probably because he now felt they are trying to screw things up for him and because of that they blew up more pipeline last week but it is all gimmick to deceive the federal government.
“He is actually the one masterminding the attacks and same time issuing statement to discredit the group to hoodwink the public.
“So who is he deceiving? Is he the only ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta that the perpetrators have to single him out to issue ultimatum. He is the one planning it all. Security Agents are no fools that would fall to his antics and cheap blackmail. All that he is saying is just ploy to divert attention because it is crystal clear that Tompolo is behind the attacks because of his many cases with the government.
“If I may ask, did he not last week accused President Buhari that it was because of his support for former President Goodluck Jonathan that President Buhari is after him? Has he not once said it was because of Bayelsa state elections that the federal government is after him?
“So what is new about him saying today that I am the one luring troops to lay siege to Gbaramatu Kingdom or am the one influencing the almighty federal government to go after him. What do I have to do with his EFCC case that I have to influence security agency against him?
“Was I part of the dubious sale transaction of the Maritime University or the N13billion fraudulent land acquisition transaction of which he is under probe? So why should I catch on this stage managed attacks designed to force the government to do his bidding in trying to undo him when I have nothing to do with all his fraudulent transactions during the Jonathan era.
“Where were the so-called Avengers that he is now using when Jonathan was in power? Where do they suddenly emerge from if not from Tompolo enclaves? The advocacy committee set by the Delta state government of which his kinsmen, the deputy governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro is chairman is now meeting with which people if not people from his enclave.
“I am sure the Delta state government is aware of those perpetrating the act that’s why they decided to set up the committee to take the message to their doorstep so how does all this affect me?
Emami however called on security agents to also investigate the source of Tompolo’s numerous statement saying that the wanted ex-militant leader cannot be issuing statement and remain in hiding while fuelling unrest in the region and urged Tompolo to be bold enough to honour invitation to appear and face the law.
Story by David Oputah
