A renowned South – South youth leader, Hon. Comrade Dr. Hope George JP and others have backed the Federal Government on the award of oil pipeline surveillance contract to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).
The Delta State Representative in the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Administrative Council who was once former Vice President of National Youth Council of Nigeria spoke to newsmen shortly after a stakeholders meeting of youth leaders from states in the Niger Delta Region held at Asaba headquarters of Delta State.
He stated that the youths of the region were happy for the choice of Ekpemupolo, the Commander of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), adding that Tompolo was capable of safe guarding the oil pipelines.
The former Chairman of Caucus of Chairmen of National Youth Council of Nigeria South-South Region believed that the award of the said contract to Tompolo will offer a lot of job opportunities to youths of Niger Delta Region.
“With the outcome of the Stakeholders Meeting, I can tell you that the youths of Niger Delta Region are happy for the award of the contract to one of our own. We are grateful to the Federal Government,” he added.
Hope George who gave Governor Ifeanyi Okowa a pat on the back for his support for the award of contract of surveillance to the ex- militant believed that oil theft will be a thing of the past and that there will be increase in oil production going forward.
The youth leaders who spoke through the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Okowa on Political Matters called on those against the choice of Tompolo to have a re-think as he said that Tompolo would drastically reduce the vandalism of oil pipelines in the water ways.
