••• CONDEMNS CALLS ON FG TO CANCEL CONTRACT
•••SAYS WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN TOMPOLO TO ENSURE SANITY ALONG THE PIPELINES
The Coalition of Edo Social Cultural Groups, (CESCG), has backed the Federal Government’s decision to award a multi billion pipeline surveillance contract to High Chief Government Tompolo.
The group also condemned the calls in some quarters on the Federal Government to cancel the contract and hand it over to another person.
The group’s statement followed intensified sponsored protest against the well thought out decision of the Federal Government to engage the former leader of the of MEND.
The CESCG condemned the condemnation of the pipeline surveillance contract during a press conference in Benin on Thursday.
The convener of the group, Comrade Kola Edokpayi, said that group’s interest was to unite the Niger Delta and not to encourage division,
With him were Comrade Joseph Gbale, Comrade Solomon Okuduwa,
He called on well meaning indigenes of the Niger Delta to collaborate with Tompolo to ensure successful execution of the critical contract.
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent issues lingering among youth 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.
“That we have implicit Confidence on High Chief Government Ekpemoplo( A.k.a Tompolo) ability to police the pipe line 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.” He said