Metro
Bayelsa govt, MEND upset Tompolo’s plans
Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) may have put an end to the planned meeting called by former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo.
The governor on Friday cancelled the meeting of militant leaders called by Tompolo, and which had been scheduled to hold today (Saturday) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The notice of the meeting had created anxiety within security circles in the region.
Dickson, in a statement on Friday by his media aide, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said that the governor would meet with the ex-militants in no distant time, to discuss with them issues that affected them and the nation as a whole.
MEND however, in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, described the planned meeting as an assembly of dubious contractors and disgruntled elements.
It said those calling for the meeting were reacting on behalf of oil thieves and corrupt public officials.
The group, however, restated its support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to probe the immediate past administration.
Similarly, a group under the aegis of the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators called on its 12,000 members and others to shun Tompolo’s meeting.
Read also: Anxiety as Tompolo rallies MEND commanders
The NCNDE President, Israel Akpodoro, said in Abuja that the meeting is laced with mischief and bad intentions.
The Presidency on it part, on Friday said there was no plan to disrupt the meeting of top ex-Niger Delta militants previously scheduled to hold today.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said that the government would not stop the meeting because of its respect for the freedom of association.
He said, “This is a democracy. We will not stop them.”
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