Tompolo writes Buhari:Why are you persecuting my family,Community?

Tompolo

Former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari complaining of incessant harassment of members of his family and community by the Nigerian military.

In the letter to the President,Tompolo queried the rationale for his continued persecution by the Buhari administration.

 “Your Excellency sir, I have been wondering since the beginning of my travails at your instance, and I wish to ask whether, is this part of the fight against corruption in Nigeria? Or was it because I supported my kinsman, former president Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections? I thought everyone in Nigeria has the liberty to support whoever he or she deemed fit in an election. And as Dr. Jonathan bravely accepted the outcome of the election, which brought you in as president of Nigeria today, I thought you will heal wounds as the father of the Nation. And it was on this premise that I visited you immediately after your swear-in ceremony to pledge my loyalty and readiness to work with your administration. 

“I am yet to be told the reason for all these shenanigans exhibited by your security agencies and party members (Ayiri Emami and Michael Johnny). I really want to know whether this marcaba dance is being declared by you or is it out of their own volition to perpetuate this high level of hatred on my person and close associates? It has really gotten to a worrisome dimension as the situation is getting deteriorated by the day".

Tompolo who recounted in the letter how his 84 year-old father was brutalized by the Nigerian military leading eventually to the amputation of one of his limbs in hospital, advised President Buhari of treating him unfairly particularly with regard to the issue of the contentious Maritime University situated in Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu, Delta State.

“The truth of the matter is that I have been treated unfairly by you sir. After all these hallubalo about the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in which I was accused of some wrong doing, you are yet to send emissaries to Okerenkoko (permanent site) and Kurutie( temporary site) of the University to ascertain the level of things on ground. Your Excellency sir, you are being respected today because of your integrity and sincerity of purpose, therefore you need to consciously investigate the issues surrounding the establishment of the University.

If you can send some of your trusted men to visit the sites of the University and request for documents from the Federal Ministries of Transportation and Land and Survey, then you would have succeeded in unravelling the truth behind this University controversy,” Tompolo said in the letter.

Noting that President Buhari ought to have investigated whether N13 billion was actually spent on purchasing the land for the university, he accused the President was ignorant of some of the things going on in the Niger Delta.

“As it stands now, you are not abreast with things happening in this part of the country, perhaps you are only abreast with crude oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta region. I do not need to remind your Excellency that the primary duty of any government is to seek after the welfare and security of the citizenry.

Unfortunately the people of the Niger Delta region, particularly the coastal people are relegated to the background despite the huge revenue contribution from the area to the coffers of the country,” Tompolo said.

Noting that the present letter may be the last he will write to the President, he advised him to take immediate steps to ease the tension in the country.

“I believe the truth will come to stay one day. You need to do the right thing by uniting the entire country. Be wary of bogus informants. Always try as much as possible to hear every side of issues that are brought before you. By this, you will always know those sincerely love you,” he said.