<\/p>\n
Again, ex-warlord, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has<\/p>\n
written to President Muhammadu Buhari , complaining that the military was<\/p>\n
yet to return his symbol of authority as the chief priest of Egbesu<\/p>\n
Shrine, Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The item was allegedly removed from the traditional temple about a month<\/p>\n
ago when the Military invaded the community in search of the rampaging<\/p>\n
militants.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tompolo, who is said to be the chief sponsor of the renewed militancy in<\/p>\n
the region, also alleged that the soldiers also placed the traditional<\/p>\n
ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom under house arrest for one week.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cAs I said in my previous publications, the military made away<\/p>\n
with the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu<\/p>\n
Shrine, which I am the Chief Priest. They also made away with other<\/p>\n
valuables worth several millions of naira from the community. Arrest of 10<\/p>\n
young men Tompolo and BuhariTompolo and Buhari<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most annoying part is the purported arrest of 10 young promising men,<\/p>\n
most of whom are orphans, who are secondary school students sitting for<\/p>\n
the West African Senior Secondary School Examinations, WASSCE and other<\/p>\n
palace staff who were labeled members of Niger Delta Avengers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I write you now, these innocent young promising men are still with<\/p>\n
your military for no reason. This is truly man\u2019s inhumanity to man in our<\/p>\n
own country. We are presently being treated like conquered people because<\/p>\n
of crude oil.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease kindly direct your army to return the looted items, including the<\/p>\n
symbol of authority and also release these innocent young men to continue<\/p>\n
their academic programme, even though they have missed the WASSCE for this<\/p>\n
year.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cMr President, remember, no condition is permanent. I have kept faith in<\/p>\n
this country. I have contributed in no small measure to the development of<\/p>\n
this country. It is my prayer that God Almighty should preserve me to meet<\/p>\n
you again to tell you my side of the numerous stories you have been<\/p>\n
inundated with about me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was how they arrested Chevron Nigeria Limited Staff on routine duty<\/p>\n
in Kokodiagbene community of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and labelled them members<\/p>\n
of Niger Delta Avengers. It took spirited effort by leaders of the kingdom<\/p>\n
and other well-meaning Nigerians to convince the military, that the<\/p>\n
arrested men were not involved in pipeline destruction.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. President Sir, please permit me to quickly recall a similar incident<\/p>\n
that occurred in May, 2009, when this same military invaded several<\/p>\n
communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, under the command of late President<\/p>\n
Umaru Yar\u2019Adua. Traditional worship centres were desecrated, property was<\/p>\n
looted and above all, the multi-billion naira ultra-modern magnificent<\/p>\n
palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom was burned down, and his golden<\/p>\n
crown was stolen by the military. Court and compensation<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAs peace loving people, the kingdom approached the courts and demanded<\/p>\n
compensation for the unlawful invasion and destruction of property, in<\/p>\n
which the court awarded N99 billion in favour of Gbaramatu Kingdom. After<\/p>\n
seven years of that sad incident, the Federal Government is yet to pay<\/p>\n
the compensation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThis incident also led to the declaration of the Presidential Amnesty<\/p>\n
programme for peace to reign, as the government found out that military<\/p>\n
action was not the best way to address the Niger Delta question and the<\/p>\n
rest became history in the lives of those who led that invasion. I<\/p>\n
believe Mr. President should learn a lesson from the 2009 military<\/p>\n
invasion and do the needful.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Again, ex-warlord, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari , complaining that the military was yet to return his symbol of authority as the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n