Former militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, Thursday, pleaded with journalists to stop inciting Itsekiri people against him, saying he had nothing against the ethnic nationality, as apparent in his visit to its leaders, some time ago.
The former Niger Delta agitator also said he was not executing any contract at the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ project site as had been severally alleged, but his concern was to protect what rightly belongs to the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, which is the Gbaramatu Deep Sea Port.
Tompolo made the clarification in a statement by his media consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, while reacting to recent media report that militants linked to him, allegedly shot at JAD Nigeria Limited workers, carrying out a clearing job at the Itsekiri end of the EPZ site.
He said, “It has come to the knowledge of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo the use of his name in news stories he knows nothing about in recent times. Such journalists are hereby warned to desist from this wicked practice as it will bring them nothing good but evil.”
“The very recent one being a news report that boys loyal to High chief Ekpemupolo allegedly shot at JAD Nigeria Ltd workers,who are carrying out a clearing job at the Itsekiri end of the EPZ site. There is no iota of truth in that story. It is simply mischievous,frivolous and sensational”.
“He is aware of the evil tendency of some journalists to incite the Itsekiri against him,and also to sell their newspapers. Let such journalists know that he is at peace with the Itsekiri people which was evident in his visit to leaders of the the Itsekiri nation some time ago”, Bebenimibo added.
According to him, “High chief Ekpemupolo has nothing to do in the EPZ site as he has no contract or job to do in the EPZ site. This can be confirmed from the owners of the project. The only interest he has in the EPZ project is the protection of what rightly belongs to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and that is Gbaramatu Deep Sea port,which land belongs to the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, and has been so designated by the Federal Government of Nigeria during the groundbreaking ceremony on March 26, 2015”.
“It is the desire of High chief Ekpemupolo to continue to work with journalists in this country, as he advocates for a better living for them because they are human beings like him. Therefore, he will not wish them evil, and so, they should not wish him evil too. It should be stated clearly that if this pattern of journalism is not stopped forthwith, he will be forced to seek redress in any court of competent jurisdiction for defamation of character”, the media consultant asserted.
