The Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND) has faulted the claims that the former Militant leader, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo single handedly led the struggle for the emancipation of the region which led to the creation of Presidential Amnesty Programme, and the existing peace in the region.

According to the MSDND, the claims is faulty and an attempt to cover up the ignoble role played by the Former Militant leader on the alter of desperation and in an attempt to erase the role of the Oporoza House in Gbaramatu Kingdom for opposing Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign and his supporters prior to 2023 Presidential election.

MSDND, through its Publicity Secretary, Kelvin Orughoe, argued that the Oporoza House in Delta state unanimously and publicly disowned Alhaji Asari Dokubo, then Governor of Rivers Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders from the Niger Delta region for working and supporting the Tinubu’s campaign in 2023.

According to the group, the Oporoza House allegedly took out Newspaper publications and some social media outlets to disassociate themselves from the Tinubu’s campaign

https://thewhistler.ng/2023-ex-niger-delta-militants-dump-asari-dokubo-endorse-peter-obi/

“It is sad that the Tinubu’s Presidency and his advisers have decided to publicly shame those who worked and laboured with him during his Presidential campaign to instead reward and appoint persons that publicly disowned him and abused his supporters just because they were able to allegedly bribe officials in his Aso-Villa to secure appointments.

“These people have been hired by the government and they are recently struggling to rewrite their history to claim supremacy across the Niger Delta region as a result of funds obtained from the federal government’s pipelines surveillance contracts.

“Let it be known that Tompolo is not the only ex-militant leader in the region and there are other leaders way above him in the Niger Delta region’s struggle.

“We must remind our people of the role of Key Figures in the Niger Delta Struggle.

“Due to the environmental pollution and degradation by crude oil and gas exploration and production activities by the federal government and the oil companies in the region, coupled with extra-judicial killings of regional patriots seeking better compensation and lifestyle.

“Alhaji Asari Dokubo was among the earliest young activists to take up arms against the Nigerian government, paving the way for the likes of General Boyloaf, Farah Dagogo, and additional figures to join the Niger Delta struggle.

“Dokubo’s actions inspired many, creating a foundation for the movement that sought to address the region’s grievances.

“Tompolo, however, played a different role. He was not initially involved in the core Niger Delta struggle. He allegedly betrayed his friend Henry Okah and arranged with some DSS officials to arrest Okah at his father’s burial, however their plot was thwarted by the setups and arrangements made by General Boyloaf and Dagogo.

“When Henry Okah was eventually arrested in Angola, Tompolo immediately distanced himself from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) by forming his own faction called FENDI, seeking to separate himself from the main struggle.

“In contrast, General Boyloaf advanced the struggle of MEND to Greater heights by taking up the leadership role as the Deputy Commander MEND. It was General Boyloaf who managed to elevate the struggle to new heights, initiating a peace agreement dialogue that eventually led to the release of Okah in Angola and the formation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme with the federal government.

“During the peace negotiations, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua visited Bayelsa State, where General Boyloaf emerged from the creeks to engage and discuss directly with the President, signifying a pivotal moment in the Amnesty peace process.

“Tompolo’s involvement in the Amnesty Programme peace deal was minimal if there are any. He was primarily engaged in alleged questionable oil dealings, which led to deadly casualty upon a soldier discovering an oil barge in Iroko Camp allegedly being operated by Tompolo and his followers.

“This incident caused the federal government to declare him a fugitive, leading him to negotiate his safety under the cover of the ongoing Amnesty peace deal which was organized by General Boyloaf.

“Despite Tompolo’s request for an extended Amnesty offer deadline to enable him and his men to secure more arms in order to be considered a serious contender after they saw the volume and caliber of high powered weapons that were submitted by General Boyloaf and his men, Tompolo’s request for the Amnesty deadline extension was ignored because General BoyLoaf had personally assured President Yar’Adua that everyone would comply by the set deadline, which proved accurate,” the statement read.

On the alleged involvement of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro in the alleged leaking of classified security documents hidden in the Amnesty office and the Department of State Services (DSS), and given to a group known as the Mienbutus Voices on Facebook, the MSDND urged the President Bola Tinubu to suspend the Amnesty Boss immediately.

The group said the proposed suspension in justifiable because the Amnesty office is a sensitive and security office and to allow the security agencies take a critical look to further sanction others involved.