It is no longer news that the Nigerian government, in their desperate bid to secure the nation's oil assets, bid a contract to the foremost former warlord in the Niger Delta by the sobriquet of Tompolo.
Many Nigerians, including well-wishers, vehemently kicked against the contract being issued. Some went as far as using faceless militants to threaten the surveillance contract. Perhaps many of the well-meaning Nigerians who spoke out against the contract did so out of ignorance.
The man, Tompolo, has enjoyed so many names on the lips of Nigerians because of his history as a warlord. Nonetheless, there is no route to freedom and equity against any repressive government without enduring the criminal and terrorist tag.
In all integrity, a well-meaning Nigerian does not need a prophet to reveal the insensitivities of successive Nigerian governments towards the Niger Delta people. While the Niger Deltan leaders have endured part of the blame and rightly so, the question remains: "is a man who rises up to challenge these insensitivities a hero or a criminal and a terrorist?" Depending on your moral views, he sure seemed like a hero to me.
After accepting the dialogue proposed by President Yar'adua, Tompolo dropped his armed struggle to sustain the government's commitment towards developing the Niger Delta. Ever since then, the man has been committed to ensuring peace in the Niger Delta, and this peace entails warding off criminals in the region that often attracts military invasions. Military incursions that further leave his people in a deplorable state. These activities have further endeared him to love and respect among the people. However, when the current administration came into power, the enemies of the Nigerian state conjured up a plan to get Tompolo out of favour with the government. They know the threat he poses to their illegal activities. In particular, stealing national assets.
The security was never their problem because they could have them bought to do their bidding, which is quite evident to every sane Nigerian. The cost of getting Tompolo out of favour with the government did not come at no cost. It allowed these oil thieving cartels to perpetrate their acts unperturbed because the security apparatus in the country set up to secure these assets are part of the cartels.
The end result has been dwindling revenue from oil receipts. Speaking as an economist, it affected our dollar receipts and subsequently foreign reserves needed to boost the strength of the Naira, which explains why the Naira has been depreciating over the years against the dollar. Also, the end result is dwindling resources to finance our budgets, which leaves us at the mercy of creditors (go and check our debt profile).
The government rushed back to convince Tompolo to trust them once again and be of service at the nation's most critical time (Being late is better than never). Considering the danger these illicit crude oil thieves pose to the Niger Delta environment and the tag his people (Jerican oil thieves) have been enduring as the main oil thieves, the man once again took up the challenge to unearth the cartels of oil thieves.
The revelations coming up in barely a month give a glimpse that my analysis may not be far from the truth. Now, recognising the magnitude of people involved in stealing our resources, I dare to ask those who queried why the Tompolo was awarded the contract : "Who else dares to unearth the cartels of oil thieves in the Niger Delta?"

Afriifa:
It is no longer news that the Nigerian government, in their desperate bid to secure the nation's oil assets, bid a contract to the foremost former warlord in the Niger Delta by the sobriquet of Tompolo.
Many Nigerians, including well-wishers, vehemently kicked against the contract being issued. Some went as far as using faceless militants to threaten the surveillance contract. Perhaps many of the well-meaning Nigerians who spoke out against the contract did so out of ignorance.
The man, Tompolo, has enjoyed so many names on the lips of Nigerians because of his history as a warlord. Nonetheless, there is no route to freedom and equity against any repressive government without enduring the criminal and terrorist tag.
In all integrity, a well-meaning Nigerian does not need a prophet to reveal the insensitivities of successive Nigerian governments towards the Niger Delta people. While the Niger Deltan leaders have endured part of the blame and rightly so, the question remains: "is a man who rises up to challenge these insensitivities a hero or a criminal and a terrorist?" Depending on your moral views, he sure seemed like a hero to me.
After accepting the dialogue proposed by President Yar'adua, Tompolo dropped his armed struggle to sustain the government's commitment towards developing the Niger Delta. Ever since then, the man has been committed to ensuring peace in the Niger Delta, and this peace entails warding off criminals in the region that often attracts military invasions. Military incursions that further leave his people in a deplorable state. These activities have further endeared him to love and respect among the people. However, when the current administration came into power, the enemies of the Nigerian state conjured up a plan to get Tompolo out of favour with the government. They know the threat he poses to their illegal activities. In particular, stealing national assets.
The security was never their problem because they could have them bought to do their bidding, which is quite evident to every sane Nigerian. The cost of getting Tompolo out of favour with the government did not come at no cost. It allowed these oil thieving cartels to perpetrate their acts unperturbed because the security apparatus in the country set up to secure these assets are part of the cartels.
The end result has been dwindling revenue from oil receipts. Speaking as an economist, it affected our dollar receipts and subsequently foreign reserves needed to boost the strength of the Naira, which explains why the Naira has been depreciating over the years against the dollar. Also, the end result is dwindling resources to finance our budgets, which leaves us at the mercy of creditors (go and check our debt profile).
The government rushed back to convince Tompolo to trust them once again and be of service at the nation's most critical time (Being late is better than never). Considering the danger these illicit crude oil thieves pose to the Niger Delta environment and the tag his people (Jerican oil thieves) have been enduring as the main oil thieves, the man once again took up the challenge to unearth the cartels of oil thieves.
The revelations coming up in barely a month give a glimpse that my analysis may not be far from the truth. Now, recognising the magnitude of people involved in stealing our resources, I dare to ask those who queried why the Tompolo was awarded the contract : "Who else dares to unearth the cartels of oil thieves in the Niger Delta?"

The man below doesn't want your votes! I repeat "doesn't want your votes!!"....He needs them.

OBI will dare it! Are you ready?

JoeNL22:

The man below doesn't want your votes! I repeat "doesn't want your votes!!"....He needs them.

OBI will dare it! Are you ready?

Obi is good but lack the balls to shake the table