Ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo broke his silence on Saturday over the seven-day ultimatum handed down to him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to report at its headquarters in Abuja over alleged N13 billion land deal during the immediate-past administration.
According to Tompolo, though EFCC lied over claims that he refused to honour its invitation, he said the EFCC’s recent ultimatum is diversionary, as he is actually being hounded by the All Progressive Congress (APC) over his refusal to join the party and support its flag-bearer in Bayelsa State governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ekpemupolo made his claims in an open letter to Nigerians on the threat by EFCC to declare him wanted if he failed to honour its invitation. According to him, “The real reason this All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government is after me is that I bluntly refused to join APC and to support their governorship candidate in Bayelsa State. We cannot all be in APC.
“I know why they are after me. It is not the alleged multi-billion naira property transaction. After all, it went through due process and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). And as such, if there are any questions to answer, it is the people at the FEC, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Federal Ministry of Lands and Survey, Federal Ministry of Transport, NIMASA, etc, who approved the transaction that should be answering such questions.
“Our people have always believed in the Nigerian project and have always hoped to join hands with this administration to move this project forward; but the conditions being attached are not acceptable. I insist on believing in the Nigerian project unconditionally! The threat to declare me wanted is an unnecessary attempt to heat up the polity. I will go about my daily business, usual.
“Finally, let me say this: If people can come from Sokoto, Katsina or Lagos to campaign in Bayelsa, why can’t I, a full blooded Ijaw man, go to my Bayelsa to campaign? I will only add this: Let the will of the people of Bayelsa prevail. Nobody should attempt to force the outcome of the election.”
-Leadership