“Pipeline Politics Exposed? Douye Diri Faces Heat Over Alleged Alignment with Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo)”
By Passman Akpos
Port Harcourt — Tensions are rising in the Niger Delta as the Movement for the Restoration of the Niger Delta (MRND) has launched a strong rebuttal against Douye Diri, accusing him of making “divisive and hypocritical” remarks regarding the controversial pipeline surveillance contract.
The backlash follows recent comments by the governor urging Ijaw stakeholders to embrace unity and avoid internal conflict over the lucrative contract. However, MRND insists the governor’s position undermines the interests of ex-agitators and grassroots stakeholders who played key roles in stabilising the region.
In a statement released Tuesday, MRND spokesperson Olotu Daniel described Diri’s comments as “condescending” and disconnected from the realities of those who sacrificed for peace in the oil-rich region.
According to the group, the governor’s call for unity fails to address what they describe as the “monopolisation of opportunities” by a select few, stressing that true unity must be built on fairness and inclusion.
The group threw its weight behind prominent ex-agitators and traditional leaders, including Ebikabowei Victor Ben (Boyloaf), Bibopere Ajube (Shoot-at-sight), and Ateke Michael Tom, who recently convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Rivers State.
At the heart of the dispute is the demand for the decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract, which the group argues should be managed by ex-agitators within their respective states—individuals they say possess the local knowledge and history necessary to secure critical oil infrastructure.
“These are the real defenders of the Niger Delta,” Olotu Daniel said. “Allowing them to take charge within their territories is not division—it is justice.”
The MRND also took aim at what it described as political inconsistency, accusing Governor Diri of previously making decisions that contributed to division within the Ijaw political structure, while now advocating for unity.
The group warned that any attempt to centralise control of the contract or sideline key stakeholders could destabilise the fragile peace in the region.
In a direct appeal, MRND called on Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently approve the decentralisation proposal put forward by regional leaders.
“The path to lasting peace lies in inclusion, not exclusion,” the statement added, cautioning that any perceived imposition of a “one-man arrangement” would be resisted through lawful means.
The controversy has sparked widespread reactions across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States, with youth groups, traditional rulers, and former agitators reportedly aligning with the MRND’s position.
As debates intensify, attention now turns to Abuja, where the federal authorities are expected to make a decision that could shape the future of security, equity, and political cohesion in the Niger Delta.
