DELTA STATE: Delta Community Leader Warns Urhobos Against Protests Over 'Tompolo's Tantita Pipeline Contract
Urhobo indigenes in Delta State have been cautioned to desist from protesting against the pipeline protection contract being executed by Tantita Security Services Limited and its chairman, Ijaw leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Urhobo indigenes in Delta State have been cautioned to desist from protesting against the pipeline protection contract being executed by Tantita Security Services Limited and its chairman, Ijaw leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The warning was issued by Chief Larry Adanike, a community leader in the oil-producing Ogulagha Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, in a statement on Sunday.
Adanike noted that the same pipeline surveillance contract was previously handled for eight years by the late Capt. Hosa Okunbo, an Edo State indigene, across Urhobo territories without protest. He accused the Urhobos of opposing Tantita simply because the company is owned by an Ijaw man.
Urhobo indigenes in Delta State have been cautioned to desist from protesting against the pipeline protection contract being executed by Tantita Security Services Limited and its chairman, Ijaw leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The warning was issued by Chief Larry Adanike, a community leader in the oil-producing Ogulagha Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, in a statement on Sunday.
Adanike noted that the same pipeline surveillance contract was previously handled for eight years by the late Capt. Hosa Okunbo, an Edo State indigene, across Urhobo territories without protest. He accused the Urhobos of opposing Tantita simply because the company is owned by an Ijaw man.
According to Adanike, even during periods of rampant pipeline vandalism and the resulting environmental degradation in host communities, there were no protests from Urhobo groups.
He described the ongoing protests as “sponsored,” and pointed out that before Tantita’s engagement, Nigeria’s daily oil production had declined to 650,000 barrels per day due to widespread pipeline breaches and oil theft.
Adanike warned that ethnic-driven opposition to Tantita’s operations is detrimental to the long-standing inter-ethnic harmony in Delta State. He expressed concern that platforms belonging to some ethnic groups are instigating protests against the firm solely because of its Ijaw ownership.
He listed major pipeline contracts handled by Urhobo and other non-Ijaw contractors in Ijaw communities over the years, including Chief Ubiebi in Forcados and Escravos, and companies like Eruben Ltd., SJ Jones, SAMOT Ltd., and Temile & Sons.
SOURCE: DAILY POST
