Niger Delta: Contract Awarded To Tompolo Causes Apprehension

 

Niger Delta leaders are rallying to forestall a major conflict that could disrupt the relative peace in the zone. “The insecurity Nigerians should worry about is not the type going on in the North, but that of the Niger Delta,” according to Igba of Warri Kingdom.

“What we have today will be a child’s play if the insecurity fully manifests. If it has not, it will soon do so in another few months”, Rita Lori asserted.

But an Ijaw leader, Dr. Clarkson Aribogha said violence won’t solve the issue, and advised Dokubo and others to make peace with Tompolo.

Warning against “wrong step”, he asked if the defunct Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) leader is fighting an “Ijaw struggle, Kalabari struggle or personality egoistic struggle”.

Aribogha further informed Dokubo that the government does not give contracts to a person who is uninterested or did not apply.

“Contract award is never by political appointment or civil service recruitment, but based on fulfilling requirements – integrity, capacity, trustworthiness and acceptance.”

Aribogha added that the government would not give anybody a job “by coercion” but on recommendation “especially on security matters”.

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) set up a committee to investigate the disagreement over the contract and would work on the report to ensure an amicable solution.

Last week, INC President Benjamin Okaba held separate meetings with Tompolo, Dokubo and King Ateke.

The Professor of sociology appealed to them to sheathe their sword for the sake of the people and not to jeopardize efforts on revenue generation.

“The federal government is following events and has urged influential and respected personalities to end the squabble by reaching out to warring factions”, a source hinted Sunday night.