By Austin Ogwuda
A group known as The Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum (NDSF) has called on the Olu of Warri Olu, Ogiame Atuwase III to justify the humongous amount paid to his private company – Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria Limited (PINL) rather than allegedly sponsoring campaign of calumny against Tompolo and his Tanitita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).
Reacting to a recent protest in Lagos, the group said that it was directly sponsored against Chief Government Ekpemupolo, (alias Tompolo) accusing the Olu of allegedly being the brain behind it. It noted that that orchestrated move was not in any way befitting of the status of a Royal Father.
According to a Press statement signed by Julius Daukoru and made available to newsmen today (Tuesday), “they were hired crowd, people oblivious of what is obtained in pipelines surveillance in the Niger Delta. If they knew, they won’t have involved themselves in that charade.
“For people not abreast with the facts, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase III’s company – Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria Limited (PINL)”, the statement went on, “handles the largest pipelines surveillance contract in the region. The Olu handles over 80% of the surveillance contracts, while Tantita, owned by Tompolo handles less than 20%, and has a workforce of over 25, 500 operatives and numerous subcontractors.
“Those who go to equity should remember they must have clean hands. The Olu of Warri runs his surveillance contract in his Warri Palace, without workers in the field.
“He doesn’t care and feels untouchable. He has no workers anywhere in the Niger Delta. Hence, the attendant high oil theft in the areas under the supervision of his company. More worrisome was the TRANS-FORCADOS Surveillance job which was terminated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) due to non-performance.
“This all important pipeline contract was being subjected to frequent vandalism and attendant crude oil theft, until the NNPCL was compelled to do the needful in the interest of the nation’s economy”.
According to the group, “Chief Ayirimi Emami and Mr. Godwin Ebosa, are notable Itsekiri sons who are sub-contractors to Tompolo’s Tantita, an Ijaw, pointing out that Tantita company has also has over 12,000 Itsekiris in its employment and payrolls and expressed sadness that it is not so with PINL belonging to the Olu of Warri.
Tagged ‘OUR TAKE ON THE PROTEST’, the statement further stated that “When a man points an accusing finger at another, he forgets his other fingers point back at him. His TRANS-FORCADOS Pipelines Surveillance contracts were terminated for failure to deliver and Olu of Warri shouldn’t be dabbling in petty tribal sentiments and squabbles”, said the group.
