By Bayo Davids<\/p>\n
The recent visit of the ex-militant leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari to the Palace of Chief Ateke Tom over the lingering debate on the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract has continued to raise dust following the absence of promine stakeholders in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.<\/p>\n
Asari, the Supreme Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and a known ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently led a delegation of eminent leaders including Bibopiri Ajube fondly known as General Shoot-at-sight, Victor Ben Ebikabowei among others to the Palace of King Michael Ateke Tom, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom.<\/p>\n
At issue was the absence at the visit of Hon. Farah Dagogo and High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich (Eberipapa), two critical stakeholders of the Niger Delta struggle in Rivers State<\/p>\n
As far as the struggle for a good deal for the oil-rich region is concerned, Ateke Tom, Asari Dokubo, Sobomabo Jackrich, Farah Dagogo are the the Rivers Big Four who worked closely as a unit since\u00a0 2012 when the pipeline surveillance contract contract was first awarded by the Musa Yar’ Adua administration on state to state basis.<\/p>\n
However, newsmen who covered the Okochiri event are worried that the absence of the likes of Dagogo and Jackrich may have once again confirmed the alleged growing sentiments, bickering and crack among the Big Four in Rivers state and fueling speculations if Dagogo and Jackrich are working in sync with Tantita Security Services Limited, a company owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo fondly known as Tompolo.<\/p>\n
A source privy to the events playing out told PointblankNews.com that\u00a0 the ex-agitators discussed the need for the surveillance contract to be shared or decentralized among the stakeholders.<\/p>\n
According to him, the meeting hinged on the success so far recorded in terms of security of oil facilities and pipelines in the past few years, noting that the leaders of the struggle in each of the states who benefitted from the 2012 contract by the Late President Yar\u2019Adua were familiar with their terrain hence they successfully carried out their jobs.<\/p>\n
The move to have everyone have a sense of belonging is premised on the fact that
\nthe Ijaw nation is a decentralized ethnic nationality. As a result, it is expedient to ensure that it’s diversity becomes the strength rather than a beacon of divisiveness that will only do the region more harm than good.<\/p>\n
While speaking to newsmen about this development in Akwa-Ibom State, a critical stakeholder of the struggle in the state General Ofon Ette lashed out at Tompolo for entrenching sentiment and not carrying along some of the frontline leadership in Akwa Ibom, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo and even Anambra along in the scheme of things.<\/p>\n
He said in the year under review, there have been complaints from critical stakeholders in the struggle from these states.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I commend the federal government which is now abreast with the fact that it lacks the strength to manage the security of our pipelines, and consequently gave it to Tompolo, I want to congratulate Tompolo for winning the contract, but he should know that he cannot do it alone but must as a priority, reach out to some of these leaders in each of the struggle across other states, instead of working with a few and applying the divide and rule tactics,” he said.<\/p>\n
By Bayo Davids The recent visit of the ex-militant leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari to the Palace of Chief Ateke Tom over the lingering debate on the renewal of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n