High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, is different thing to different people. While some see him as a freedom fighter, others consider him an enemy of the state but one thing is constant, Tompolo cannot be wished away easily.
Since 2009 when he embraced the amnesty programme of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, the name Tompolo has been synonymous with controversies of different interpretation and colouration. The 44-year-old ex-militant from Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State has continued to wax strong in his endeavours.
Though, his early life has been that of struggle, the billionaire ‘businessman’ and former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has always frowned at injustice of any kind especially when it has to do with his own people. As a result, he took up arms against the government over unethical marginalisation of his people from the benefits accruing from the production of oil, which is drilled in his own community.
He began his almost military career as an Ijaw soldier in 1997 over the then Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha’s relocation of a local government headquarters from the Ijaw area to Itsekiris.
What many may not know about reticent Tompolo is that he has been a man of means before he became a militant. His father had a couple of businesses, which are mainly in oil field services. Tompolo later became its managing director and the venture flourished. That accounts partly for his ability to fund and sustain the struggle while it lasted.
It was gathered that with Tompolo’s knowledge of the creeks and structure, he was the then JTF’s man Friday as he assisted in no small measure nailing pirates and kidnappers. It was said that he was instrumental to the arrest of notorious sea pirate, John Togo and his gang. Also, the Delta State government and the JTF allegedly employed Tompolo’s services in securing the troubled waterways in the state and he made quite a fortune from that venture.
So, it was no surprise when the Federal Government contracted Tompolo’s firm, Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL), with a contract worth $103.4 million (over N15 billion) to supply 20 vessels for the use of the nation’s military authorities to secure the waterways.
After the contract, rumours started flying from all corners to the effect that Tompolo has become so powerful as to own oil blocks, mansions in Lagos and Abuja but on a close observation, the allegations were unfounded; the former warlord has been investing in education, healthcare among many other humanitarian services through his foundation, Tompolo Foundation, to the inhabitants of the creeks whose region have been degraded by oil exploration.
Shortly after, he was said to have acquired a bombardier jet worth $13.3 million and till date, the said jet has not been seen nor flown by Tompolo.
Not too long ago, it was reported by some national newspapers that Tompolo bought seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships. The Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, however, debunked the allegation that the ‘warships’ were not warships but boats meant for the Nigerian Navy for the purpose of combating piracy, oil theft and other sea crimes.
Akpobolokemi added: “If it is Tompolo that the contract was awarded to, is he not a citizen of Nigeria? Is he an ex-convict? Is he not more than 18 years old to own a company? We have hundreds of vessels, which in the past 10 years and up till this moment, including patrol boats supplied by private individuals to oil multinational companies that are working in conjunction with the Nigeria Navy. Has there been any complaint anywhere? Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company and Agip, among other international oil companies and the Nigerian Navy, up till this moment, engage people, including those who are grumbling now, to supply them patrol boats. Who has raised any dust? If anybody has a reason to partner with us and we feel he is qualified, who are we not to give him jobs?”
Other allegations leveled against him especially in his Delta State in this political era include his alleged influence on the polity as having bankrolled Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s gubernatorial ambition and made him Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer, that he forced an Ijaw deputy gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Lucky Otuaro, his cousin, on Okowa and also coerced Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan to forego his senatorial ambition in favour of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw indigene. Tompolo is alleged to have threatened President Goodluck Jonathan to cancel the ground breaking ceremony of the $16 billion gas project in Delta State, among others.
The young man has denied ever having a hand in the affairs of the state except his personal businesses. It seems whenever Tompolo sneezes some people catch cold.
Most of the boys in the struggle are now graduates courtesy of Tompolo and are doing well in their various fields of endeavour manning his foundation and other business concerns.
But the Tompolo they do not know is a humble man whose seeming frail stature belies his military prowess. Tompolo always cites Isaac Adaka Boro, the late Ijaw hero who was killed during the Nigerian civil war, as his hero and the main inspirational figure for his daring struggle against the federal government. He strongly believes in the Egbesu deity, the god that many Ijaw worship, and sees it as directing his survival so far.
A peep intoTompolo Foundation has it that it is a non-profit making organisation whose aim is to improve the quality of education and support health care service deliveries in the rural cummunities.
Tompolo Foundation sees its mission to improve the quality of education and support primary health care deliveries as an invaluable investment in the future of the hundreds of thousands of the inhabitants in the rural communities.
Its vision include the promotion of equal access to effective education and quality health care delivery is the bedrock of all of its programmes, events and partnership with cummunities, firms, non-governmental organisations and individuals. It seeks to achieve these goals year after year. The foundation gives support to communities and institution denied of their adequate rights and privileges.
The foundation also provides educational and recreational material supports to children in the public/government institutions.
Tompolo Foundation supports primary health care services for the less privileged in the rural communities in the Niger Delta through the provision of health care facilities to health institutions, health personnel support and organising health seminars/workshops The foundation also supports innovation, inspiration and improvement in teaching and learning activities.
Tompolo Foundation advocates for a peaceful and developed Nigeria where every child, no matter how poor or disadvantaged, will have the chance to thrive and achieve their dreams.
When Ebikeme Clark, son of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, was kidnapped, it took the intervention of the ex-warlord to effect his release.
Very interesting… impressive.. that is if it is really all true. Then again could not also be whitewash in anticipation of May 29th?