Niger Delta militant, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has turned down President Umaru Yar’Adua’s offer of amnesty.

He said he planned to live and die in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

Tompolo, in letter to President Yar’Adua, obtained by our correspondent, said: "I do not plan nor envisage a return to the artificial cities of Warri, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja with your response to our struggle."

He warned that the Federal Government "may win this war against our just cause; but they cannot win the peace in any guise."

He said peace would still be elusive until fundamental issues enumerated by various groups, including MEND, FNDIC and others are addressed.

Such demands, he said, include the withdrawal of JTF and implementation of the various reports on the region.

Tompolo said killing him or other militant leaders in the region would not end the agitation.

The letter came against the backdrop of a secret meeting between Tompolo and the Presidential Adviser on the Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe,in Warri on Tuesday.

It was also gathered that Tompolo, during the meeting, refused Alaibe’s offer to provide a presidential jet to fly him to Abuja via Escravos for a personal meeting with the President.

Alaibe, who was with a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Kingsley Kuku, and National President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr. Christopher Ekiyor, tried to convince Tompolo to accept the amnesty.

The meeting, it was gathered, was also used to reveal some of the secret deals in the amnesty and disarmament programme that were not contained in the details revealed to the press.

A reliable source told our correspondent that Tompolo got offers of better packages than other militant leaders, because "it was known that he has the highest number of boys."

Although the monetary implications, if any, contained in the deal was not immediately known, our source said he was assured that Tompolo would get 30 per cent upfront as soon as he accepted the offer while the balance would be spread over time.

The source said: "Tompolo promised to embrace peace at least for the interest of the entire kingdom, which suffered greatly because of his recent face-off with the Joint Task Force.

"But on the offer to surrender his arms, he said that was not possible because of his past experience. He told Alaibe how he had done that in the past and helped rid the waterways of criminals to achieved peace only for him to be betrayed by the government".

Nevertheless, it was gathered that Alaibe was able to secure assurance that some of the top militant ‘commanders’ in the area would accept the offer of amnesty and disarm in the next few weeks while discussions would continue between him and Tompolo.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/15933/1/Tompolo-rejects-amnesty-offer/Page1.html

Tompolo is a man of principle. It wouldn't be surprising if MEND isn't actually further arming up in this amnesty period.

Our government has always been insincere

otokx:

Our government has always been insincere

Na true my broda ,

I hope Tompolo will stay true to his word.

@Ibime

I hope so too.

Our government has always been insincere



IBB AND ABACHA STARTED IT, AND OBJ CAME AND FUELLED IT.

Gold-mind:

Our government has always been insincere



IBB AND ABACHA STARTED IT, AND OBJ CAME AND FUELLED IT.

i wonder why people run thier mouths without thinkin, in what way did IBB & Abacha start what you deem & accuse them of creatin,

^Institutionalising corruption 100%.