Tompolo, cronies trying to use INEC to achieve what they couldn’t through law courts – Protesters allege

Itsekiri host communities to Continental Oil and Gas Limited, OML 150 Obodo Flow Station in Warri South Local Government Area, have accused High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) Engr. Matthew Tonlagha and their perceived cronies from Gbaramatu, “of attempting to use INEC to achieve what they could not achieve through the law courts”, as it relates to land ownership.

Fresh Angle International, can report that they made the allegation Thursday June 11, when they stormed the premises of Continental Oil and Gas Limited, OML 150 Obodo Flow Station, in protest against proposal by the Independent National Electoral Commission to delineate units and wards in Warri Federal Constituency.

The Chairman/Head of the OML-150 Communities’ Consultative Forum/Employment and Contract Committee, Prince Emmanuel Debi Oritsemone, who led the protesters to the company’s facility, stated that High Chief Government Ekpemupolo in one of his videos in Gbaramatu, acknowledged that they were not he owners of the land, when he reportedly said “we are the people on ground, it is not about Supreme Court Judgment, we are the ones on ground".

Prince Oritsemone, who doubles as Trust Chairman of the Uwakeno Community, averred that INEC cannot name wards and polling units after Ijaw names, just because the Ijaws occupy the land, purportedly owned by Itsekiri communities.

Whilst stating that INEC’s proposed delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, was not done in accordance with INEC’s own guidelines and directives, Prince Oritsemone, declared: “It is an aberration for INEC to name places, Ijaw names when there has been Supreme Court judgments, declaring the Itsekiris owners of the areas in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North.

Protesters at Continental Oil and Gas Limited, OML 150 Obodo Flow Station

“INEC converted Wards and Polling Units in Agbassa in Agbarha giving them to the Ijaws and disenfranchising the Urhobos in the process, when Supreme Judgments have stated that Ijaws do not have any land in Warri South neither can their Traditional ruler Amakosun of Ogbe-Ijoh collect any royalties from Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

“This is a Clarion Call to INEC NIGERIA and to its Chairman who is a Legal Practitioner and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to follow and obey Court judgment as it pertains to the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, starting from the Court of Appeal Judgment against INEC stating there are 10 Wards in the Warri South LGA and various Supreme Court Judgments as to ownership of Lands in the Warri area.”

Vocal female voice in Warri kingdom, Lorenta Eyeoyibo, who also addressed newsmen during the protest, stated: “We are here to say no to fraudulent ward delineation that was mortgaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC with the Ijaws.

“We don't see any reason why INEC should give our land of Warri Kingdom, through the proposal of ward delineation to the Ijaws. We are calling on the federal and State governments to intervene and let the rule of law be followed adequately.”

A cross section of protesters at Nigerian Gas Company Limited, Ubeji

The protesters carried banners and placards with inscriptions, such as ““INEC Nigeria should not pick and choose which judgment to obey” “The federal government has three tier of government. INEC Nigeria is not a tier of government and must obey court judgments” “Tompolo & Matthew Tonghala cannot bend the hand of Government”, “Stop Economic Sabotage, we will vacate this premises if the Ijaws agree to vacate Abiteye & Olero facilities” and “Itsekiris say No to Intimidation from Tompolo & Matthew Tonlagha.”

Our Co-Publisher/Managing Editor, reports that another group of protesters also stormed the Nigerian Gas Company Limited facility at Ubeji-Warri, earlier today, demanding that the current Obodo / Omadino Ward 1 in Warri South Local Government Area, be delineated into six wards, due to its huge population and geographical spread.

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