By Tope Kolawole
A prominent coalition of Niger Delta stakeholders has issued an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging Mr President to jettison advise from top government officials calling the renewal of the multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, insisting that the popular view of the Niger delta region is decentralization of the pipeline surveillance deal.
In the letter signed by Comrade Maxwell Efe on behalf of the Concerned Niger Delta Patriots for Transparency and Resource Justice (CNDPTRJ), the group accused the contract of being tainted by a grave conflict of interest that borders on economic sabotage against the Nigerian state. He also insisted that those who are bent on the renewal of the contract are only doing so to protect their personal and self-serving interests.
The coalition, comprising community leaders, youth groups, environmental advocates, and stakeholders from oil-bearing communities across the Niger Delta, argued that Tompolo’s dual role as both pipeline protector and alleged beneficiary of an oil well creates an unacceptable conflict. And leave humongous resources in the hands of one man — resources he is now alleged to be using to strengthen opposition political parties against the APC — the group argued that Tompolo is now fighting President Tinubu and the APC with the proceeds from Tantita contract.
“At the heart of this scandal is the disturbing fact that the very man entrusted with protecting Nigeria’s oil pipelines and facilities is now allegedly linked to sponsoring political interests in parties that have vowed to dethrone Mr. President in 2027,” the letter stated.
The group drew a sharp analogy to highlight the perceived absurdity of the situation: “how can the baby now turn back to bite the very fingers that feed him”.
According to the coalition, it is alleged that Tompolo has already planted his allies in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the event that the party emerges victorious in the coming election as he boasted to his friends and allies that his interest remains to continue amassing wealth through the pipeline surveillance job. In furtherance of that, an ex Militant Agitator, General Adowei, who is well linked to Tompolo has since emerged as NDC’s Delta South Senatorial Candidate. A company is that is operated by Tompolo and his allies is also being rumored to be sponsoring NDC activities in Kano state.
“Such an arrangement amounts to economic sabotage against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the long-suffering people of the Niger Delta,” the statement read.
The letter advised Tinubu to put into consideration, the genuine support of APC members before empowering a man that has shown apparent distrust and lack of loyalty by sponsoring political opposition political parties with funds raised from the pipeline surveillance deal.
“We are the only true and loyal supporters of Mr President, those who support Tinubu by night and sponsor opposition by the day must be identified, investigated and alienated from our treasury”, the group insisted.
The coalition urged President Tinubu to act without delay by directing the immediate termination or non-renewal of the Tantita contract, ordering a comprehensive forensic audit of all expenditures and performance, and convening a broad-based Niger Delta Security Summit to design a truly inclusive, transparent, and sustainable surveillance framework involving multiple ethnic nationalities and local groups.
“The eyes of the region and the entire nation are on you, Mr. President,” the letter concluded.
“History will judge whether you stood on the side of entrenched interests or chose the path of bold reform needed to secure our oil assets for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
The group also revealed that the SA to Mr President on Amnesty is also serving as a PA to Mr. Matthew Tonlagha, the Chief Executive Officer of Maton Engineering Nigerian Ltd, a contractor with Tantita on the Pipeline surveillance contract.
“Every contracts relating to oil and gas is unjustifiably being awarded to Tompolo and his few allies leaving the majority of Niger Delta people in abject poverty and misery.
“It is devastating that Mr. President is being advised to support a program that excludes many and only benefits a few. Can Mr. President win the entire Niger Delta region with the votes of only Tompolo and his self-serving allies?”, the group asked.
“The God of Justice, equity and fairness, and the ancestors of Niger Delta will demand for justice if Mr. President ignores the collective call of the Niger Delta people for the decentralization of the Pipeline Surveillance contract and continue to concentrate same in the hands of one Family thereby making us slaves of Tompolo in the Niger Delta”, the letter warned.
The group expressed its readiness for further engagement and reiterated its support for any genuine effort toward lasting peace, equity, and development in the Niger Delta region.
