Chief Edwin Clark, the head of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, argues that there is nothing improper about the pipeline surveillance contract given to former insurgent leader Government Ekpemepulo, also known as Tompolo.
The Federal Government revealed last month that it had awarded an ex-militant an N48 billion contract to monitor pipelines in order to stop the threat of oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Nigerians had reacted differently to the scenario.
In a statement released on Sunday, Clark advised Nigerians from interfering with the affairs of the oil-rich region. He said that in order for the populace to concentrate on the big picture of sustainable development, there should be no more fighting or disorder in the Niger Delta.
“The unpatriotic elements should realize that there is nothing wrong in awarding contracts to any capable Niger Deltan, especially to protect oil and gas assets that are situated in their backyards,” he said.
“Similar contracts have been awarded in the past to individuals, I do not understand, therefore, why the Tompolo case is made to look as if it is the only one.”
“The beneficiaries of the contract are bonafide sons of the Niger Delta, who are committed to the peace and stability of the region and the country.”
The elder statesman also expressed satisfaction with the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, in the manner he handled the tension generated over the awarded pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo.
Meanwhile, Governor Diri and the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress jointly resolved the disagreement among Ijaw sons over the oil pipeline surveillance contract.
A peace meeting to settle the feuding parties was convened at the instance of Diri, who presided over the parley alongside the President of the INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, in Yenagoa at the weekend.
The meeting also constituted a five-member monitoring committee to follow up on the successes of the parley in the interest of peace, unity and stability of the Ijaw nation and indeed the Niger Delta.