Boyloaf-Tompolo-Ogunboss War Goes Nuclear: Ebebe Watchman Demands Apology To Boyloaf, Tells Tompolo ‘Stay Out Of Bayelsa’ As Ezekiel Daniel Declares ‘Defend The Indefensible’

By Passman Akpos

A fresh war of words has erupted within Niger Delta circles as former Niger Delta struggle commander and medical professional, Dr. Ebebe Watchman, launched a blistering attack on Paul Eric, popularly known as Ogunboss, over his comments concerning Chief Victor-Ben Ebikabowei, alias Gen Boyloaf.

Watchman demanded an immediate and unreserved apology from Ogunboss to Boyloaf, insisting that the latter’s standing and contributions during the Niger Delta struggle placed him far above Ogunboss.

According to Watchman, Ogunboss joined the armed struggle in Bayelsa State toward its final phase and allegedly misunderstood the objectives of the Niger Delta agitation.

He claimed that Ogunboss subsequently became embroiled in violent confrontations with fellow Ijaw youths, particularly Gen Africa, a commander from a neighbouring community.

Watchman recalled that the dispute eventually required Boyloaf’s intervention.

He said Boyloaf, who at the time was overseeing ex-agitators in Bayelsa, summoned the rival commanders to his command to prevent further bloodshed and resolve the disagreement.

“During the rivalry between him and Gen Africa, Boyloaf sent me to Peremabiri to stay with Ogunboss to maintain peace and order before they were summoned to the highest barrack at Gen Boyloaf’s place,” Watchman said.

He questioned why Ogunboss would publicly attack someone he claimed had played a role in his life during the struggle.

“He is the last person I expected to publicly insult someone who transformed his life. He should go ahead and reveal whatever secrets he claims to have against Gen Boyloaf and leave the rest to history,” Watchman stated.

Watchman further accused Ogunboss of having contributed little to the Niger Delta struggle, challenging him to publicly identify the major missions or achievements he executed during the agitation.

The former commander also made serious allegations concerning Ogunboss’s alleged involvement with illicit drugs and violence. Those claims could not be independently verified and are presented here strictly as allegations made by Watchman.

‘Bayelsa Resources Must Remain for Bayelsans’

The controversy widened when Watchman turned his attention to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

Watchman argued that Bayelsa should be allowed to independently determine how its economic opportunities and resources are managed.

He specifically demanded that Tompolo stay away from Bayelsa affairs, including pipeline surveillance contracts and other economic opportunities.

“What belongs to Bayelsa must strictly remain for Bayelsans,” Watchman declared, while accusing external interests of benefiting from Bayelsa’s resources at the expense of local youths.

He also alleged that some Bayelsa youths had suffered as a result of conflicts connected to powerful actors in the region.

Watchman referenced the cases of Balamene Karowei and Charles Korubo, two Bayelsans whose alleged abductions have remained a subject of controversy and calls for answers.

He criticized Ogunboss for what he described as silence over the cases and claimed that Boyloaf had instead provided financial assistance to affected families.

The allegations concerning responsibility for the disappearances remain disputed and should not be treated as established facts without independent evidence or judicial findings.

Ezekiel Daniel Joins the Attack

Adding another layer to the escalating confrontation, Apostle Ezekiel Daniel also issued a strongly worded statement targeting Ogunboss over his support for Tompolo.

Daniel challenged Ogunboss to identify what he described as a single falsehood in allegations previously made against Tompolo.

He pointed to the reported disappearances of Karowei and Korubo, as well as claims allegedly made by their families and other individuals, arguing that such matters should be subjected to investigation and justice rather than dismissed as political attacks.

Daniel accused Ogunboss of putting loyalty to powerful figures ahead of the interests of victims and their families.

He also made a series of highly personal allegations against Ogunboss, including claims concerning alleged family scandals, violence, substance abuse and incidents said to have occurred in different parts of the Niger Delta.

Those allegations remain unverified and were not independently established in the material available for this report.

Daniel further alleged that Ogunboss had spent years away from his community and maintained much of his influence through social media.

He also criticized Ogunboss’s association with Tare Pondi, portraying the relationship as one in which Ogunboss allegedly receives inadequate benefits from younger associates.

‘You Will Not Get Decentralisation Contracts’

The political dimension of the confrontation became more pronounced as Daniel issued a direct warning over pipeline surveillance and decentralisation contracts.

Daniel vowed to oppose any attempt by Ogunboss to secure pipeline decentralisation opportunities under the current administration.

The declaration suggests that the feud has moved beyond personal accusations and is increasingly becoming a wider contest over influence, access to economic opportunities and political relevance in the Niger Delta.

At the centre of the dispute are competing claims over who has the legitimate authority to speak for Niger Delta interests and who should benefit from contracts arising from the region’s oil and gas economy.

A Bigger Battle Over Bayelsa’s Economic Space

The latest exchange has exposed a deeper fault line within Niger Delta politics and former militant networks: whether economic opportunities generated from the region’s oil resources should be controlled by influential former commanders and their allies or distributed through structures that give greater priority to host communities and local youths.

Watchman’s demand that Tompolo stay away from Bayelsa, coupled with Daniel’s threat to block Ogunboss from decentralisation contracts, has transformed what began as a personal war of words into a broader argument about ownership, representation and access to economic power.

For now, Ogunboss faces a two-front verbal offensive from Watchman and Daniel, with Boyloaf, Tompolo, pipeline surveillance contracts and the unresolved cases involving Karowei and Korubo all becoming central points of contention

The escalating accusations are likely to intensify debate across Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta, particularly among youths demanding greater local participation in the economic opportunities generated from their communities.