Niger Delta Militants in War of Words over Bayelsa Election
Ex-militant warlord, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, has been warned not to meddle in the politics of Bayelsa State in his own interest.
The warning was issued by another ex-militant leader in the state, Mr. Africanus Ukparasia, popularly called General Africa, in a statement in Yenagoa yesterday, adding that the warning became necessary in view of plans by Tompolo to interfere in the December 5 governorship election in the state by deploying ex-militants from neighbouring Delta State in support of a candidate in the election.
Ukparasia warned that any such move would be resisted by him and others, adding that intelligence reports at the disposal of former fighters in Bayelsa State indicate that Tompolo has allegedly set in motion a strike squad to attack parts of Bayelsa during the election with the aim of hijacking election materials and using them to rig for a particular candidate.
Africa recalled similar events when Tompolo attacked parts of Bayelsa in the past including the Government House jetty in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He said during the attack, attempts were made to bomb the Government House before the move was repelled by the military. That attack, according to General Africa, took place on April 20, 2007.
On the infamous attack and destruction of the country home of former President Goodluck Jonathan in May 17, 2007, General Africa revealed that the act was carried out by Tompolo’s foot soldiers.
He said Tompolo equally deployed some of his boys in the state to disrupt the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Bayelsa, adding that three of his boys were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at a hotel in Yenagoa.
General Africa warned his colleagues in Delta State that the purpose of their agitation was not to attack sister states and communities, reminding Tompolo that he (Africa) also had the capacity to interfere in the politics of Delta State if Tompolo refuses to desist from meddling in the affairs of Bayelsa.
He warned of dire consequences if Tompolo attempted to attack Bayelsa State before, during or after the December 5 governorship poll and called on the police, DSS and all other security agencies to place Tompolo under security watch to avert any conflict.
But in a swift reaction, Tompolo, who spoke through his media adviser, Paul Bebenimibo, dismissed the allegation.
Bebenimibo questioned General Africa’s role in the governorship election and wondered how Tompolo intended to meddle in the election in Bayelsa, asking General Africa to “shut up instead of opening his mouth to make wild, unsubstantiated and spurious allegations against Tompolo”.
“Who is Africa? What is his role in the Bayelsa election? Is he a contestant in the election? Is he the federal government, police, DSS, military or what?
“Who is he to get a report on High Chief Government Ekpemupolo? As far as we are concerned, we do not understand what he is saying. He is not making any sense at all.
“My boss has nothing to do with the Bayelsa election. We do not know his (General Africa) relationship with the Bayelsa election and for such a person to allege that Tompolo is planning to disrupt the poll is senseless, unfortunate and unthinkable. The allegation does not make any sense to us,” Tompolo’s media aide said.