DIVINITY: The Truth About Tompolo, Why Attacks On Him Cannot Work
~Silence Is No Longer Golden
“The greatness of a people is not measured by how fiercely they pull one another down, but by how courageously they stand together to build a future that benefits generations yet unborn.”
There are moments in the history of a people when silence is no longer golden. There are moments when remaining silent in the face of persistent attacks, distortions and attempts to diminish a man who has become deeply connected to the aspirations of his people amounts to allowing false narratives to take the place of truth. This is one of those moments.
The truth about High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, is that his life cannot be properly understood through the narrow prism of political sentiments, personal disagreements, rumours or the narratives of those who have chosen to oppose him, he is a devine being. Tompolo is a product of the Niger Delta struggle, a man whose life has been shaped by the realities, contradictions, injustices and struggles of the oil producing communities. His story is inseparable from the history of a region whose lands, rivers and waters have contributed immensely to the economic survival of Nigeria, while many communities from which these resources come have continued to confront poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, insecurity and developmental challenges.
There is also a deeper dimension to the Tompolo story which his admirers and those who have followed his journey closely often describe in spiritual terms. Tompolo has developed a strong belief in divine purpose and divine protection. His conviction is that his journey has not been sustained by human strength alone, but by a higher power that has carried him through some of the most difficult chapters of his life.
To those who hold this conviction, Tompolo’s divine connection is so strong that mere mortals cannot simply bring him down because his journey is believed to be connected to a higher purpose. This is not a claim that places any human being above the law or beyond accountability. Rather, it reflects the profound faith of those who believe that destiny, divine purpose and providence have played an extraordinary role in Tompolo’s survival, resilience and continued relevance.
Tompolo has taken his time to study and understand the heroes of different nations down to Nigeria, the Niger Delta and the Ijaw nation, what happened to them, their battles, triumphs, failures and the cruelties of mankind. He has combined all these lessons, coupled with his harsh experiences in the Niger Delta struggle, his horrible, horrific and horrifying challenges, with a touch of his heavily reinforced belief in divinity, and he has come out even stronger.
His experiences have produced a man whose journey cannot be adequately explained by ordinary political calculations or the opinions of those who either admire or oppose him. Those who believe in the spiritual dimension of his journey would argue that every attempt to destroy him has only strengthened the determination with which he continues to move forward.
Nobody can ever truly understand the man Tompolo. One can only understand the aspects of his life and personality that have been made visible through his public activities, struggles, relationships and interventions. His experiences have been unusually complex, his battles exceptionally demanding and his emergence into a major national figure remarkably significant.
The man who once stood at the centre of the Niger Delta struggle has entered another chapter in which his influence is increasingly connected with divinity, security, empowerment, employment, community development, the protection of Nigeria’s economic interests, the prayers and goodwill of his people.
This is one of the reasons why attacks against Tompolo have not succeeded in diminishing his relevance. Despite the vituperations, accusations and controversies that have surrounded his name over the years, he has continued to remain relevant and increasingly influential in matters concerning the Niger Delta and Nigeria. Rather than retreating into bitterness, the developmental activities associated with him have continued to attract attention through empowerment, employment, community engagement, security and economic initiatives.
Silence is no longer golden.
Some of us have to come out to speak because lies, if not checkmated with the truth, may eventually be accepted as the truth by certain quarters. Silence may be golden in ordinary circumstances, but silence becomes dangerous when falsehood is allowed to dominate public conversation.
Till date, in this our era, few individuals have touched the lives of people in the Niger Delta and Ijaw land in the manner Tompolo is doing through the opportunities and institutions associated with him. His influence has become connected with the empowerment of people, creation of opportunities, support for communities, protection of critical infrastructure and the advancement of legitimate economic activities.
A single individual cannot solve every problem confronting the Niger Delta, but a person with the influence, resources and capacity to make a difference deserves encouragement when that influence is being directed towards productive activities. The region needs people who can create opportunities, support communities, strengthen institutions and contribute to peace. Tompolo has increasingly occupied that space.
Tompolo, A Life Wire Of The People
Tompolo has become a life wire of the Niger Delta people at this moment because of the network of economic, security, empowerment and community development activities associated with his leadership and influence. His relevance is not merely a product of history. It is also connected to the opportunities being created for people, the institutions operating around his vision and the increasing attention being given to the economic and environmental challenges confronting the region.
In a region where poverty and unemployment remain serious concerns, empowerment has a profound meaning. It means giving people the opportunity to work, providing young people with legitimate means of livelihood, supporting communities and creating pathways through which people can participate in the formal economy. The activities associated with Tompolo have increasingly reflected this developmental direction.
This is why his contribution can be linked to Sustainable Development Goal 1, which seeks to end poverty in all its forms. It is also connected to SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 14 on life below water and SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. Describing Tompolo as a force contributing to these objectives is a developmental assessment of his activities.
His significance is particularly visible in the way security, employment, environmental protection and economic activity are increasingly being discussed together. The Niger Delta does not need security that exists in isolation from development. It needs security that creates an environment where businesses can operate, workers can earn legitimate incomes, communities can prosper and the environment can be protected.
Tompolo has therefore become an important life wire of the people at this moment, particularly because his influence is being channelled into institutions and initiatives that have created opportunities for many people in the Niger Delta and beyond.
Engr Matthew Tonlagha, A Business Tycoon Forged In The Niger Delta
Engr Matthew Tonlagha is a business tycoon forged in the realities of the Niger Delta and one of the indigenous personalities demonstrating the power of enterprise, vision and investment in people. His journey represents the possibilities that emerge when people from the region acquire the capacity to create businesses, generate opportunities and contribute to the economic advancement of their communities.
The Niger Delta needs more people like Engr Matthew Tonlagha who understand that wealth becomes more meaningful when it is connected to human development. Indigenous entrepreneurs have an important role to play in addressing unemployment, empowering young people and creating legitimate economic pathways.
The region cannot depend exclusively on government. Government remains central to development, but private enterprise, indigenous investment and business leadership must complement public policy. When businessmen from the Niger Delta invest in the region, employ people, create opportunities and support communities, they contribute to the economic foundation upon which a peaceful and prosperous society can be built.
Engr Matthew Tonlagha therefore represents an important part of the emerging economic leadership of the Niger Delta. His efforts should be encouraged because the region needs more people who are prepared to invest in its future rather than merely complain about its problems.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited And The New Face Of Niger Delta Empowerment
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has become one of the most visible institutions associated with the new phase of development around Tompolo. The company’s activities have extended beyond the narrow perception of security into a broader conversation about employment, empowerment, community engagement, environmental responsibility and economic stability.
Tantita’s role in pipeline surveillance and critical infrastructure protection is particularly important to Nigeria because the country’s oil sector remains a major component of national revenue and foreign exchange earnings. Improved security of oil infrastructure helps protect production, reduce losses and create a more stable environment for legitimate economic activity.
The successes recorded in Nigeria’s oil production in recent years have further demonstrated the importance of strengthening security around critical oil infrastructure. The contribution of community based surveillance and indigenous participation in protecting oil assets has become an important part of the broader national effort to sustain production and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
The significance of this development cannot be underestimated. Every improvement in oil production has consequences for Nigeria’s economic stability. When production increases, government revenue can improve, foreign exchange pressures can be reduced and the country gains greater capacity to finance infrastructure and social development. Tantita’s contribution to the protection of critical infrastructure therefore goes beyond the Niger Delta because the economic benefits extend to Nigeria as a whole.
Tantita has also demonstrated an understanding that long term security must be connected to economic empowerment. Its sustainable rice farming initiative in the Niger Delta represents an attempt to create alternative livelihoods and move people towards productive agricultural activities. Such programmes provide the kind of economic transition the Niger Delta needs because the long term answer to insecurity cannot be security operations alone. People must have legitimate alternatives through which they can earn a living, support their families and build a future.
The environmental dimension of Tantita’s work is equally significant. The protection of oil infrastructure against vandalism and illegal interference can help reduce additional environmental damage caused by crude oil theft, pipeline breaches and related activities. In a region already burdened by decades of environmental challenges, legitimate efforts that contribute to the protection of the ecosystem deserve encouragement.
Tantita’s contribution can therefore be connected to several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly poverty reduction, decent work, economic growth, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability and peace. The company has become a practical example of how security operations can be linked with broader community and economic objectives.
The continued growth of Tantita as an indigenous institution also demonstrates what can happen when Niger Delta people are given the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the protection of national economic assets. Its activities have provided employment, strengthened community engagement and created opportunities for people who would otherwise have faced limited economic prospects.
For these reasons, the Federal Government should continue to support constructive partnerships with Tantita and other credible indigenous institutions that are contributing to national security, oil production, environmental protection, peace building and economic empowerment.
High Chief Engr Kestin Pondi, MD Tantita, And A Strong Institution Of Empowerment
High Chief Engr Kestin Pondi, Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, deserves special commendation for the role he has played in steering the organisation and strengthening its capacity to contribute to the economic and social development of the Niger Delta.
As Managing Director, Kestin Pondi occupies a position that requires vision, discipline, administrative competence and a deep understanding of the Niger Delta environment. Under his leadership, Tantita has continued to operate as an important indigenous institution within the national oil and gas security framework while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for people across the region.
His leadership has helped demonstrate that indigenous Niger Delta companies can operate at a level where their activities have consequences for national economic security. The company’s role in pipeline surveillance, community engagement and critical infrastructure protection has positioned it within an important part of Nigeria’s effort to improve oil production and protect national assets.
Kestin Pondi’s contribution should also be viewed through the human faces behind Tantita’s operations. Every legitimate employment opportunity created by the company represents a family supported, a young person given hope and another individual provided with an alternative to idleness and economic desperation.
His leadership has therefore become part of a wider empowerment story. The value of Tantita cannot be measured only through its corporate operations. It must also be measured through the people whose livelihoods have become connected to its activities and the communities that have benefited from its presence.
The Niger Delta needs more indigenous executives who can transform regional opportunities into sustainable institutions. Kestin Pondi has demonstrated that leadership at the corporate level can contribute to the broader development aspirations of the region.
High Chief Godfrey Tare Pondi, GM Tantita, And The Strength Of Operational Leadership
High Chief Godfrey Tare Pondi, General Manager of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, equally deserves commendation for his contribution to the growth and operational effectiveness of the organisation. As General Manager, his responsibilities place him within the core leadership structure responsible for translating the company’s vision into practical results.
His contribution is part of the institutional strength behind Tantita’s activities in the Niger Delta. The company’s growing profile in pipeline surveillance, critical infrastructure protection, community engagement and empowerment requires professionals who understand the terrain, the people and the operational realities of the region.
Godfrey Tare Pondi represents that important layer of professional leadership working behind the scenes to sustain an institution that has become significant to the economic and security conversation in Nigeria. His work contributes to the broader objective of ensuring that Tantita remains capable of creating opportunities while supporting national efforts to protect critical infrastructure.
The success of any major organisation is never the work of one individual. It requires a strong team of professionals who understand their responsibilities and are committed to the objectives of the institution. Godfrey Tare Pondi’s role within Tantita forms part of that collective strength.
His contribution should therefore be recognised as part of the broader empowerment and development story associated with Tantita. Through the company’s activities, people have gained employment, communities have received attention and legitimate economic opportunities have been created across the Niger Delta.
Federal Government Should Continue To Partner With Tompolo For National Progress
The Federal Government of Nigeria should continue to partner with Tompolo and the institutions associated with him where such partnerships serve the national interest and contribute to the continued progress of Nigeria and the Niger Delta. Such cooperation should be anchored on law, accountability, transparency and measurable results, but it should also be guided by the understanding that Nigeria needs every credible hand capable of contributing to economic stability, security and development.
The partnership around oil infrastructure protection has demonstrated the value of engaging people who understand the terrain and communities of the Niger Delta. The improvement in oil production recorded in recent years has given renewed importance to community based approaches to securing critical infrastructure.
Tantita’s activities in the areas of pipeline surveillance, environmental responsibility, peace building and alternative livelihood development provide an important example of how security and development can reinforce each other. A safer oil producing environment creates greater opportunities for production, while employment and empowerment can strengthen the social foundation for peace.
The Federal Government should therefore see such partnerships as part of a broader national strategy. Nigeria needs to protect its economic assets, increase legitimate oil production, reduce crude theft, support host communities, create employment and protect the environment. These objectives cannot be achieved by government alone. Strategic partnerships with competent indigenous institutions can make the process more effective.
Tompolo’s influence should be channelled towards these national objectives. His experience, relationships and understanding of the Niger Delta make him an important stakeholder in the search for lasting peace and economic development in the region.
Critics Should Repent: The Niger Delta Needs Builders, Not Destroyers
Those who have made it their permanent mission to attack Tompolo, Tantita, Engr Matthew Tonlagha, High Chief Engr Kestin Pondi and High Chief Godfrey Tare Pondi should reconsider their approach and redirect their energy towards more productive areas of the Niger Delta struggle. The region has enough challenges demanding attention, including poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, educational deficiencies, healthcare challenges and the need for sustainable economic development.
There are other things to do in the Niger Delta. There are communities that need development. There are young people who need jobs. There are entrepreneurs who need support. There are schools that need attention. There are environmental challenges that require urgent intervention. There are communities that require roads, electricity, water and other basic infrastructure. These are the issues that should consume the energy of anyone genuinely interested in the progress of the Niger Delta.
Criticism has its place in society, but perpetual vilification is not development. Where there are genuine concerns, they should be presented responsibly and through appropriate channels. Where there are achievements, they should not be deliberately ignored simply because of personal disagreement with the individuals involved.
Tompolo is currently a life wire of our people, particularly through the network of empowerment, employment, security and development activities associated with him. Matthew Tonlagha is contributing through indigenous enterprise. Kestin Pondi is helping to lead an institution that has become important to the region’s security and economic environment. Godfrey Tare Pondi is contributing to the operational strength of that institution. These contributions should be recognised and encouraged.
Those who have spent years attacking these individuals should find other ways to contribute to the struggle. The Niger Delta needs builders more than destroyers, contributors more than detractors and solution providers more than permanent critics.
The time has come for critics to repent of destructive tendencies and redirect their energy towards the real challenges confronting our people. There is enough work to occupy every patriotic Niger Deltan. Nobody should spend his entire life trying to destroy another person who is contributing to the advancement of the region.
Ijaw Nation Must Choose Love And Unity
The Ijaw nation has suffered enough from internal division. We cannot continue to allow political differences, personal disagreements and competition for influence to become reasons for destroying one another. The greatest challenge before the Ijaw people is not the success of one individual. It is the collective economic and social advancement of the people.
There is no need for an Ijaw man to celebrate the downfall of another Ijaw man. There is no need for Niger Delta people to become enemies because of political disagreements.
We must learn to disagree without destroying ourselves, compete without becoming enemies and correct one another without hatred.
If Tompolo succeeds, the Ijaw nation should benefit. If Engr Matthew Tonlagha succeeds, the Niger Delta should benefit. If Kestin Pondi strengthens Tantita, the people working within the institution should benefit. If Godfrey Tare Pondi contributes to its operational growth, the region should benefit. When one person creates an opportunity, another person should be inspired to create ten more.
This should be the new culture of the Niger Delta. We should celebrate indigenous achievement, encourage enterprise and support people who are using their influence to create opportunities for others.
The Niger Delta Must Move From Internal Warfare To Collective Development
The Niger Delta cannot continue to spend its greatest energy fighting itself. The region has suffered enough from environmental degradation, unemployment, poverty and years of developmental challenges. The new struggle must be about building a stronger economic foundation for our people.
The fight should be against poverty, not against our brothers. The fight should be against unemployment, not against ourselves. The fight should be against environmental degradation, not against people creating legitimate opportunities. The fight should be for better education, stronger infrastructure, greater economic participation and a more prosperous future.
This is why the contributions of Tompolo, Matthew Tonlagha, Tantita, Kestin Pondi and Godfrey Tare Pondi should be seen within the larger picture of Niger Delta development. They are not the only people who should contribute, but neither should their contributions be deliberately destroyed or dismissed.
The region needs more people of capacity. It needs more entrepreneurs, more professionals, more institutions and more investors. It needs a culture where achievement produces inspiration rather than jealousy and where success creates collaboration rather than hostility.
Tompolo Has Done Well And Deserves Support
Looking at the entire picture, Tompolo has done well in the areas where his influence and institutions have been directed towards empowerment, security, community development and economic participation and beyond. His journey from the turbulent history of the Niger Delta struggle to his present position of influence is significant, and the opportunities associated with his activities have made him an important figure in the Niger Delta’s present development conversation.
His supporters have every reason to defend him against what they consider unfair attacks, while responsible citizens can continue to demand accountability and transparency from every individual and institution. Appreciation does not mean abandoning accountability, and accountability should never become a licence for vilification.
The most productive approach is to encourage the positive transformation that has become associated with Tompolo and the institutions around him. If his influence can contribute to poverty reduction, employment, environmental protection, peace building, infrastructure security and increased oil production, then Nigeria and the Niger Delta should be interested in strengthening the positive aspects of that influence.
The same principle applies to Engr Matthew Tonlagha, Kestin Pondi, Godfrey Tare Pondi and Tantita. The region should encourage people who are creating opportunities and building institutions. Their achievements should become platforms upon which others can build.
To Crown It All
The truth about Tompolo is that his story has moved beyond the controversies of the past into a new chapter defined by influence, empowerment, security, economic participation and development. His activities and the institutions associated with him have become part of the Niger Delta’s present reality, and the responsible response should be to encourage what is positive, strengthen what is productive and ensure that every intervention remains accountable to the law and the people.
Tompolo has done well and should be supported and appreciated for the positive contributions associated with his present activities. He should not be reduced to the controversies of yesterday while the development opportunities of today are ignored. His influence should be deployed towards the continued empowerment of our people, the strengthening of peace in the Niger Delta, the creation of jobs, the protection of the environment and the advancement of Nigeria’s economic interests.
The Federal Government should continue to engage him constructively. The Niger Delta should continue to encourage him. The Ijaw nation should continue to support productive initiatives associated with him. Nigerians should judge his present contributions fairly, without allowing old narratives to blind them to new realities.
Tompolo’s greatest value at this moment is not simply his name. It is the capacity of his influence to bring people, institutions, businesses and government closer to a common development objective. That influence should be used for the good of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
The Niger Delta needs love and unity. It needs empowerment and employment. It needs environmental protection and economic security. It needs peace and development. It needs leaders who can transform influence into opportunities and opportunities into sustainable progress.
The energy that has been spent attacking Tompolo, Matthew Tonlagha, Tantita, Kestin Pondi and Godfrey Tare Pondi should be redirected towards building schools, creating businesses, supporting communities, empowering young people, protecting the environment and strengthening the Niger Delta.
There is no need to hate one another. There is no need to destroy our own people. There is no need to vilify those who are contributing to the development of the region.
The time has come to recognise achievement, encourage empowerment, support indigenous enterprise and build a culture of collective progress.
Tompolo has passed through the fires of the Niger Delta struggle and emerged as one of the most influential figures of his generation. At this stage of his journey, the greatest service the people can render is to encourage him to continue using his influence for development, while ensuring that the institutions around him remain committed to accountability, peace, environmental responsibility and the welfare of the people.
The future of the Niger Delta should not be built on hatred. It should be built on unity, empowerment, enterprise, peace and development. It should be built on the collective determination of our people to transform the Niger Delta into a region where every young person has a legitimate opportunity to succeed.
That is the Niger Delta we should fight for.
That is the Ijaw nation we should build.
And that is the Nigeria we should leave behind.
Amb Binebai Yerin Princewill,
Niger Delta Youth Leader/Stakeholder.
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