A former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson has lauded the efforts of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, founder of the Federal Government contracted private oil pipeline surveillance firm, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, “in the fight against crude oil theft, as well as curbing environmental degradation in the region thus restoring aquatic lives to the Niger Delta waters”.
Dickson however stated that “a lot still has to be done.”
The Bayelsa ex-governor made the remarks in Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, during a courtesy visit to the Kingdom on Friday, to formally express solidarity with the kingdom which he described as kinsmen.
He said, “A lot still has to be done. So, I want to encourage him (Tompolo) now that I am here. I have seen development myself. I want to encourage him to do more”.
Dickson who is presently the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, commended the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba and the teeming Ijaw people “for maintaining order, peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.”
He specifically gave kudos to Tompolo, saying, “Over the contributions being made by Tantita Security Services in stopping vandalism to strategic national assets within the territory and also for reducing illegal bunkering and environmental degradation occasioned by the illegal refineries and those operating it.”
Dickson, while describing Gbaramatu Kingdom as “a very strategic part of Ijaw nation, Niger Delta and Nigeria”, also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu and the NNPCL management for the confidence reposed in Tantita Security Services and called for the sustenance of the partnership for improved services.
“I thank the President, the Petroleum Ministry and the NNPCL and all of them for working with him (Tompolo). The good thing that the Federal Government the NNPCL and all the agencies have done is by engaging a man who understands the physical terrain and also the operating environment. All the systems he knows them. And that’s why he and his people have been able to bring some semblance of normalcy.
“I think that that partnership needs to be strengthened and sustained and expanded so that Tantita can do more.
“Stopping pilfering and crude oil vandalism is one thing. But we are also bothered about the environmental degradation of our region. This is our area. This is where we live. And for the Ijaw man, these rivers you see are our life because our lives depend on our waters. Hence, polluting our waterways, our rivers and our creeks is a major existential threat to our people.
“And so, we thank Tompolo and his colleagues in Tantita and encourage the security agencies to collaborate more with them and NNPCL to strengthen that partnership and extend it so that they can do more for our people”, Dickson stated.
Responding, the traditional ruler of the Gbaramatu kingdom, His Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun Ii, Aketekpe, Agadagba expressed gratitude to the former Governor of Bayelsa State for the visit and urged him to be closer to the Kingdom, being an Ijaw leader himself.
In attendance at the gathering were some Ijaw traditional rulers drawn from different communities in the Niger Delta.
Also in attendance were Dickson’s political associates and supporters from various communities and Local Governments in Bayelsa State.