Tension in Niger Delta as Ex-Militant Generals Regroup

There was palpable tension on Thursday across the Niger Delta following the decision of foremost ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, known along the creeks and waterways as Tompolo, to summon a meeting of his colleagues to a meeting in Bayelsa State under the auspices of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
The summon, which was contained in a statement issued by Tompolo’s media aide, Paul Bebeminibo, indicated that the meeting will hold Saturday July 25.
It read: “My dearly beloved Commanders and Leaders of various wings of the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), I greet you all. It is my pleasure to humbly invite you to a very crucial meeting.”
The multi-million Naira surveillance contract with the Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA) of Tompolo, a close confidant of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been cancelled by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The MEND was pronounced dead during the days of former Jonathan. Niger Delta resident were worried that the group could be revived at the meeting.
The Daily Times gathered that though the agenda of the meeting is being closely guarded by the ex-militants, ,they may deliberate on issues concerning the recent position put forward by the former President ,Olusegun Obasanjo that the alleged poor performance of the former President Jonathan will continue to haunt the Niger Delta region.
Also slated for discussion are the alleged plan by the Buhari administration to probe, arrest and jail the Jonathan and the refusal to accede to the plea by the people of the region for the quick appointment of a substantive Special Adviser on Amnesty Programme as well as payment of outstanding payment of three months allowances and scholarship fees to ex-militants undergoing trainings in Nigeria and abroad.
An ex-militant General, told journalists on the condition of anonymity that the meeting might also deliberate on the formation of a new MEND and take a position on the actions of President Buhari since his assumption of office so far.
“We are not meeting to declare war but we will carefully discuss issues of interest as they affect the Niger Delta region,,” he said.
The General added: “Since the assumption of power by President Buhari, there are signs of tension due to the administration’s perceived animosity against the region and the beneficiaries of the Federal Government Amnesty deal. Women have cried out .Ex-militant Generals have pleaded but no answer from Buhari. We cannot fold our hands and let the boys be provoked into violence.”
Paul Bebeminibo, the media aide to Tompolo, said the meeting would deliberate on some important nation issues