TOMPOLO: POLITICAL SHUTTLES OF A GAME CHANGER

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo's recent political shuttles would surprise only those who do not properly know his past even as the moves provide insight to his admirable personality.

If politics is a game that determines who gets what and where, then those who think that Tompolo is a political upstart are dead wrong. As a Mobilisation Officer of the Dr. Bello Oboko-led Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), arguably the most audacious organisation in the fight for fair share of oil proceeds from the Niger Delta, Tompolo clamoured on the turf of what is referred to as militancy. Would you disagree that is politics of a kind?

Having left the creeks following his acceptance of amnesty, his transition to the conventional political terrain is in furtherance of his relentless pursuit of justice, peace and unity of purpose of the Niger Delta—via the vehicle of humility.

Certainly, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) and other groups, miffed that Tompolo swung votes at the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries for victory of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, against candidates like Chief David Edevbie, didn't mean to say Tompolo had no right to unhindered participation in the political space.

Tompolo, feeling that a governor of Delta North extraction would promote equity, justice , peace and balance in Delta State pitched tent with Senator Okowa and canvassed for Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, as Okowa's Deputy, because the Ijaw are yet to produce a Secretary to State Government (SSG) let alone Deputy Governor in the state. Another fair move as far as Delta State politics is concerned!

Despite the anger vented at him from aggrieved quarters, Tompolo kept his familiar humble path in search for peace and understanding. He embarked on political shuttles to Urhobo land via its traditional rulers beginning from the Uvwie Monarch and respectfully appealed to them for understanding. He also reached out to the Isoko nation to build bridges of understanding and unity. Who would have thought that Tompolo, an “Ijaw warlord” believed to be against the Itsekiri nation, would visit the Itsekiri Monarch, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, in his ongoing political moves for peace in the state?

Even the Itsekiri Monarch was taken aback! “Are you the Tompolo?”, a pleasantly surprised Olu was said to have asked. These shuttles, a rare political move by a vilified Tompolo, show that he is respectful, not arrogant in quest for power and wants peace and unity—traits that could only have been inherent in him.

In his diplomatic shuttles, Tompolo's assurances that Urhobo and other ethnic groups in Delta stand to benefit from a re-elected President Goodluck Jonathan would be the canon for measuring his sincerity—this quality already second nature to Tompolo. Those who know Tompolo would bet their bottom naira that should the Okowa/Otuaro administration he supports for Delta State ascends power in May 29, 2015 and tilts away from equity and justice in its search for prosperity for all Deltans, Tompolo would not hesitate to be the crusader for redress.

In his “militancy” days, the powers Tompolo wielded were not arrogantly deployed against persons but largely on forces and institutions of evil who wish to perpetrate injustice and cause disaffection. He therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt we should give him in his shuttles for peace. Owing to his assurances during the diplomatic shuttles, Tompolo may be a political game changer not just for Delta North's quest for governorship of Delta State, for the Ijaw of Delta State but of the quest of the Urhobo and other ethnic groups for yet fairer shares of the national cake!

Written by Bulou Kosin.