Delta Ijaws are not slaves to Clark and Tompolo – PND

July 1 (THEWILL) – A group known as Project Niger Delta (PND) has said the voiceless majority of Ijaws in Delta State and beyond have been marginalized in the distribution of political positions and other benefits by the duo of recognized Ijaw leader, Pa Edwin Clark and Chief Oweizide, popularly known as Tompolo.

The PND in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, signed by its Executive Director/Project Coordinator, Comrade Princewill Timipre Ebebi, stated that it has observed with utmost dismay the actions of Rev. Edwin K. Clark and Chief Gov. Oweizide, also known as Tompolo, and their kinsmen who take pleasure in enslaving their brethren from Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Ogbe-Ijoh in Delta State and beyond through ill-treatment.

The group called on President Tinubu to intervene by directing the National Security Advisor, NSA, to appoint a more credible and responsible person of public trust to lead the presidential amnesty program as a model of the program that would prevent manipulation, insecurity and bring peace, justice, equality and unity in sharing and distributing our common benefits.

The letter reads, among other things: “Mr. President should be informed that for the last two decades of the federal government of Nigeria, both the PDP and APC, the government of Chief Oweizide, popularly known as Tompolo, a former leader of the first phase militants, and his kinsmen from Gbaranmatu Kingdom, have enjoyed the following benefits due to the collective struggle of the entire Ijaw people for their selfish gains:

“Establishment of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Gbaranmatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of ​​Delta State. Former Deputy Governor of Delta State (Advocate Kingsley Otuaro) who deputized Senator Ifeanyi Authur Okowa is from Gbaranmatu Kingdom.

“A three-term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Julius Pondi, the MP representing the Burutu federal constituency in the National Assembly, is, according to records, the nephew of Chief Minister Oweizide, also known as Tompolo. Chief Minister Oweizide, also known as Tompolo, who until now enjoyed the surveillance contract in the Niger Delta region under former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the PDP and the APC-led federal government.

“Tompolo applied nepotism in all appointments and appointments of Delta State executives including DESOPADEC and other sensitive meeting slots shared with Ijaw people in Delta State and outside.

“The only traditional institution recognised by the Federal and State Governments that commands the attention of the seat of power in Nigeria in Delta, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo States among the Ijaw inhabited territories is the Gbaramatu Kingdom which comprises only fourteen (14) communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of ​​Delta State while the rest of the recognised traditional kingdoms in the Ijaw ethnic nationality where the majority of the population suffers from modern slavery.

“The current Speaker of the Delta State Assembly (Rt. Hon. Emmotimi Guwor) is from Gbaramatu Kingdom like many other famous personalities.

“Moreover, Pa Edwin Clark continued to reign with the glory of the Ijaw people and benefited from the following encouragements. As an elder statesman he was able to appoint his son Hon. Ebikeme Clark as former chairman of Burutu local government.

“Thanks to the glory of the Ijaw people, he managed to establish his private university in Kiagbodo through our collective resources. Pa Edwin Clark was formerly the Executive Director of the Urhobo Progressive Union of students. Father Edwin Clark secured the abandoned contracts through the collective glory of the Ijaw people.

“Mr President should note that the planned injustice meted out to the voiceless majority of the Ijaw population has put us in a difficult position before our Ijaw brothers who continue to enjoy our collective blessings. This means that we must seek permission and approval from one man and one kingdom to survive and fulfill our collective destiny in Nigeria.”