Tompolo, protests meeting, warns against jeopardising peace process

 

In a surprise move which is a reversal of its earlier stance, the federal government yesterday bowed to the wish of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to discuss with a group of eminent Nigerians named the Aaron team on its behalf.

The meeting held amidst protests by one of the prominent former militant group leaders, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) dissociating himself from it.

The Aaron group has as members Prof. Wole Soyinka, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) and Major General Luke Aprezei (rtd).

They were joined yesterday by Mr. Henry Okah and Mr. Farah Dagogo in the meeting with President Umaru Yar'Adua behind close doors at the Presidential Villa.

The federal government through defence minister, Godwin Abbe had earlier maintained that the Aaron group cannot speak for the people of the Niger Delta.

Abbe said the group had credibility crises and was not recognised by the government.

Yesterday's meeting with the group was however confirmed by the Presidential Spokesman, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, who did not give details but disclosed that the discussions were “frank and fruitful".
"The President used the session to reiterate his commitment to the overall peace and development of the Niger-Delta," Adeniyi said.

Ahead of yesterday’s meeting, Tompolo, in a telephone conversation with newsmen said the Aaron team does not have the backing of other ‘freedom fighters’ in the region, warning that government’s recognition of the team could jeopardize the peace process in the Niger Delta.

"I want to dissociate myself and other freedom fighters from a meeting that will take place between the Government of the Federation and the self-styled Aaron team this evening at the Presidential Villa.

"The team does not have the blessing of the freedom fighters; hence, it should not be taken seriously by the Government of the Federation and other well-meaning Nigerians. The Aaron Team is out there to jeopardize the post-amnesty programme," Tompolo added.

Our correspondent learnt that the latest disagreement over the Aaron team followed the widening gulf between the MEND factions led by Tompolo and Okah over the modus operandi of the group.

It was gathered that Okah, who was facing treasonable felony charges until his release by the federal government as part of the amnesty process, fell out with Tompolo and others, including Boyloaf over alleged highhandedness.

The face-off reached its peak when the Okah faction allegedly single-handedly replaced Annkio Briggs as MEND’s representative on the Aaron Team, to the chagrin of Tompolo, who backed the member of the Ijaw Peoples Assembly.

A prominent Ijaw youth leader from Gbaramatu Kingdom, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, said it was wrong for the Federal Government to open negotiation with Okah’s ‘Aaron Team’ after earlier denouncing the group as parallel to the one he had been meeting.

It would be recalled that President Umar Yar’Adua had earlier vowed not to meeting with the Aaron while still holding consultation with Tompolo, Ateke Tom, Boyloaf and others, stressing that it amounted to duplication of the process.

However, the President ostensibly recapitulated after the group threatened to restart attacks on oil facilities.

But Bebenimibo told our correspondent that Tompolo and his followers was not against the Aaron Team when it was first constituted, but noted that Okah’s autocratic disposition, including the replacement of Ms Briggs turned the tide.

"The problem with this process is the way Okah is going about it; he is relegating his leaders and the prominent Niger Deltan activists to the background; even people who brought him to the struggle are being treated without respect.

"Now, we have learnt that he is meeting this evening with Mr. President along with some members he has nominated. If Mr. President decides to go ahead with negotiation with him (Okah), it will be quite easy to predict the failure of the amnesty programme," he added.