Following series of pressure from various stakeholders calling for the cancellation of the Federal Government N48 billion surveillance pipeline contract to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, a group in Edo, yesterday declared its support of the decision to engaged the former Niger Delta militant.
The group said any well meaning Niger Deltan, committed to peace, development and progress in the region should join hands with Tompolo to ensure the smooth operation of the multi-billionaire naira contract.
In a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, under the umbrella of Coalition of Edo Social Cultural Groups, (CESCG), condemned the outburst against the award of the contract.
The convener Comrade Kola Edokpayi, flanked by Comrade Joseph Gbale, , Comrade Solomon Okuduwa, said their mission is to bring all stakeholder to speak in one voice for the common interest of the Niger Delta.
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent issues lingering among some youth and stakeholders in the Niger delta region regarding the pipeline surveillance contract giving to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, AKA Tompolo.
“We have noticed series of press statement and issues emanating from other interest groups across the Niger Delta region calling on the Federal Government to call off the contract and give it to another person or group of persons.
“We, totally condemned this act and we call on all interest groups to come together and work with Tompolo in other for us and the region to achieve a huge result.
“We therefore call on all aggrieved groups and individuals to embrace High Chief Government Ekpemupolo leadership and put a stop to such violence-prone protest and prevent outsiders from causing disorder in our region.
“We have implicit confidence on High Chief Government Ekpemupolo ( A.k.a Tompolo) ability to police the pipeline across the region and having carefully watched his approach in consulting and bringing all stakeholders on a round table for inclusiveness and to see that no one is left behind . “We also humbly implore all interest groups and various stakeholders in the region to work together as one, while advising High Chief Tompolo to Continue to reach out to those who are still aggrieved in the region as we are all stakeholders in the security surveillance job even in the midst of the unwarranted bickering”.