Tompolo ‘defers’ to Dickson on MEND meeting

Pressure from Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa state, has made Government Ekpemupolo, an ex-militant leader better known as Tompolo, to postpone the meeting he convened with former leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

Tompolo had summoned his comrades for a discussion bordering around the interest of the Niger Delta in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s spokesman, had said the group was unimpressed with the federal government and that the meeting would be used to address the development and arrive at decisions to be taken in the days to come.

“We are still appraising the outcome of the election and how things are going; and definitely, these issues would be addressed at the meeting,” he told TheCable.

“At the end of the meeting, we would let the public know about issues addressed and the decisions we arrive at.”

Sensing the tension generated by the proposed meeting, Dickson prevailed on the ex-militants to postpone their meeting.

On his part, Tompolo issued a statement on Friday to say he was committed to stability and was ready to reschedule the meeting to show MEND was not trying to undermine the peace of the country.

But the ex-militant leader lamented over the welfare of the beneficiaries of the amnesty programme, advising the federal government not to cancel the programme in order to avert crisis.

Speaking on Saturday, Bebenimibo said the meeting was postponed after the ex-militants met Dickson and some Ijaw stakeholders.

He said the meeting with Dickson lasted from Friday until the early hours of Saturday. But he refused to comment on the outcome.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Dickson’s chief press secretary, could not be reached for comments, as he neither answered his calls nor responded to text messages.

However, stern-looking regular and riot policemen were seen at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, supposed venue of MEND’s meeting.

A truck and about five Hilux jeeps belonging to the security personnel surrounded Ijaw House.

Policemen also mounted most of the road junctions and perceived trouble spots in Yenagoa.