Ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, yesterday, broke his silence over the Seven-day ultimatum handed to him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to appear at its headquarters over alleged N13billion land deals under the past administration.
According to Tompolo, though the EFCC lied over claims that he refused to respond or honour the invitation extended to him by the commission, he said the EFCC’s recent ultimatum is diversionary, as he is actually being hounded by the All Progressive Congress (APC), over his refusal to join the party and support its flag bearer in Bayelsa State governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ekpemupolo, who made his claims through an open letter to Nigerians on the threat by the EFCC to declare him wanted if he failed to honour its invitation.
According to him, “The real reason this All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government is after me is that I bluntly refused to join APC and to support their governorship candidate in Bayelsa State. We cannot all be in APC.
“I know why they are after me. It is not the alleged multi-billion naira property transaction. After all, it went through due process and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). And as such if there are any questions to answer, it is the people at the FEC, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Federal Ministry of Lands and Survey, Federal Ministry of Transport, NIMASA, etc, who approved the transaction that should be answering such questions.
“Our people have always believed in the Nigerian project and have always hoped to join hands with this administration to move this project forward, but the conditions being attached are not acceptable. I insist on believing in the Nigerian project unconditionally! The threat to declare me wanted is an unnecessary attempt to heat up the polity. I will go about my daily business, usual.”
“Finally, let me say this: if people can come from Sokoto, Katsina or Lagos to campaign in Bayelsa, why can’t I, a full blooded Ijaw man go to my Bayelsa to campaign? I will only add this: let the will of the people of Bayelsa prevail. Nobody should attempt to force the outcome of the election.”
