His problems seemed to have come to an end on the night of October 3 this year, when he accepted the Federal Government’s amnesty offered to militants in the creeks of Niger Delta. Then, he had renounced violence and militancy, and embraced peace in the spirit of the amnesty. But recent reports indicate that Government Ekpemupolo, the once dreaded militant leader, known as Tompolo (Polo for short) is contending with another challenge.
That challenge is that the Federal Government appears to be uncomfortable with his present stance as he is being accused and investigated by security agents for issuing threats to Minister of Niger Delta, Ufot Ekaette, and Director-General of Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh.
It is reported that Polo was really sore with the Minister and the Director for awarding a security contract for the Shoreline Protection and Reclamation Project of Kurutie in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State to a company, Phoenicia Nigeria Limited.
The location is Polo’s native area, and home to his bombed camp 5. Reports had it that he applied for the contract through his part-owned company, company KFT Kpudoh. According to reports he threatened Ekaette with a text message which, among other things read: “It is better you review whatever decision you have taken for peace to reign between your ministry and myself in the next seven days”
However, investigations reveal that many in the militant camp see it as blackmail, and an attempt to despoil the name of the revered militant kingpin. They claim that what was in contention was that the contract was awarded to a front who they suspect would eventually cut and run once the contract money had been paid, as others before him were in the habit of doing.
Militants insist that Polo should not be singled out to be demonized since the feeling of disappointment runs through in the entire militant world.
Reacting to the issue, Bright Ezeocha, leader of Igbo Youths Congress (IYC), said that it was wrong to threaten the Minister, if anybody did that. On the other hand, he contended that it would be most unfortunate if the Minister, an indigene of the Niger Delta awarded a contract to somebody whose competence and commitment to the issue of development of the Niger Delta was in doubt.
His words: “I am worried, and it would be most unfortunate if somebody from the area would award a contract to somebody from outside the Niger Delta, who the people are not sure of his commitment and executive competence”
Polo was among several militant leaders in the Niger Delta, who picked up arms to agitate for resource control, which is greater share of the oil revenue to people of the Niger Delta, who had been neglected for years.
His headquarters at camp 5 was bombed and completely razed in May this year, and many of his men routed by Joint Military Task Force known generally as JTF. Polo went into hiding.
It was while in hiding that Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) stepped up attacks on oil facilities. And while reports had it that he had escaped the country and was sighted in an Asian country, Commander of the JTF, Major-General Sarkin Yakin Bello, insisted he was still in the country, and in the area.
Polo finally gave up on the night of the expiration of the amnesty, leading many people to criticize him. The question being asked was “if he was truly fighting for resource control, in what ways had that been achieved” that he had to give up on the struggle after many innocent women and children had been killed?