High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has called for calm and restraint following the occupation of oil and gas facilities in the Escravos and Warri River axis by protesting women and youths over the unresolved ward delineation dispute in Warri Federal Constituency.
The Niger Delta leader, who is the Ibe-Ebidouwei of the Ijaw Nation and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, made the appeal in a statement issued from Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Tompolo acknowledged that since June 8, peaceful protesters from various communities had occupied a number of oil and gas installations to express dissatisfaction over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s inability to conclude the ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency.
He noted that the development had generated concern among Nigerians, many of whom had urged all parties involved to embrace dialogue and seek an amicable resolution to the lingering impasse.
The former militant leader stressed that the Ijaw people have a long-standing reputation for pursuing their grievances through peaceful means and cautioned against any attempt by individuals or groups to hijack the protests or turn them violent.
According to him, the ongoing political tension arising from the incomplete delineation process must not be allowed to degenerate into unrest capable of undermining the peace of the oil-rich region.
Tompolo urged protesters to remain law-abiding and avoid actions capable of disrupting public order, insisting that restraint and constructive engagement remained the most effective path towards resolving the dispute.
He also called for an urgent meeting involving leaders of the affected communities to collectively chart a way forward and prevent further escalation of the crisis.
The Niger Delta figure further appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to demonstrate fairness and responsibility by completing the delineation exercise in accordance with legal and administrative provisions, in order to restore confidence among the various ethnic nationalities in the constituency.
He urged residents of Warri Federal Constituency, irrespective of ethnic affiliation, to remain patient and peaceful while awaiting the commission’s final decision.
The ward delineation controversy has heightened tensions among stakeholders across Warri Federal Constituency, with Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo groups maintaining divergent positions over the implementation of INEC’s exercise following previous judicial pronouncements and administrative processes.
Observers believe Tompolo’s intervention could play a significant role in easing tensions and safeguarding stability in the Niger Delta, amid growing concerns over the potential impact of the protests on oil production and economic activities in the region.