Tompolo’s visit to Jonathan has a political undertone — Coalition urged President Bola Tinubu to be vigilant decries Tantita Security yet to pay arrears of those it disengaged due to political differences
By Paul Ebi
Coalition of stakeholders and youth groups from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state has urged President Bola Tinubu to be careful and vigilant with Tompolo and his recent visit to Goodluck Jonathan, stating that, He should not allow himself to be misled, alleging that there is a political undertone to Tompolo’s visit.
The groups described the claims by both individuals that the meeting was meant to deliberate on issues relating to security and peace in the Niger Delta as deceptive and provocative, given the nature of the persons involved.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the coalition, comprising the Southern Ijaw Unity Forum, SILGA United Voices for Peace, One Southern Ijaw Agenda, and the Indigenous Movement for SILGA Development, acknowledged that freedom of movement is a fundamental human right under the 1999 Constitution. However, they noted that Tompolo’s visit to Bayelsa on October 17, 2025, signals “provocative political interests” capable of fueling a crisis in the state, calling for urgent and proactive security intervention.
The statement, jointly signed by Comrade Timothy Amadiowei, Mrs. Victoria Elijah, Chief Thompson Kurobo, and Josiah Apoi on behalf of their respective groups, lamented that former President Jonathan was now talking about peace and security in the Niger Delta, even though he failed to speak out after over 80 persons were massacred in Igbomotoru Community, Southern Ijaw, on March 27, 2024.
They noted that the former President neither condemned the killings nor called those responsible to order.
According to them, Jonathan is aware of the bitterness, tension, and divisions caused by the March 27, 2024, incident among key Niger Delta stakeholders but failed to broker peace or intervene when the situation escalated into blackmail, witch-hunts, and false accusations aimed at silencing innocent people.
They said, “When people’s houses were being burnt and others forced to flee their homes, the former President said nothing. Yet, he is now telling the world that the secret meeting was about peace and security when he has neglected to reach out to aggrieved stakeholders.”
“The massacre of over 80 persons in Igbomotoru Community on March 27, 2024, remains fresh in the minds of Bayelsans and the international community,” the statement continued.
“Properties worth billions of naira were destroyed during the Igbomotoru raid, allegedly masterminded by surveillance contractors over political interests, yet no one has been held accountable.”
“Jonathan is talking about peace when he knows the atrocities committed across the Ijaw nation by pipeline surveillance contractors. What peace efforts has he made to reach out to stakeholders wronged by these contractors?”
“Families are still mourning their loved ones lost in Igbomotoru, yet Jonathan has remained silent. Are they not Bayelsans? Are they not Nigerians? This so-called secret meeting on peace and security in the Niger Delta is deceptive.”
The coalition further decried the failure of some surveillance contractors to pay months of outstanding salaries to youths who risked their lives protecting oil and gas facilities in the state.
They stated, “Tantita Security has yet to pay the arrears of those it disengaged due to political differences arising from the 2023 Bayelsa Governorship Election. We call on Tompolo to settle these outstanding payments before continuing with politically driven public donations.”
They also criticized Bayelsa-born individuals, including Joshua MacIver and Pastor Reuben Wilson, accusing them of playing “puppet politics” and aiding outsiders to perpetrate atrocities in their state.
“Those who sell out their brothers will never have the trust of their paymasters,” they warned. “What goes around, comes around.”
The coalition urged President Bola Tinubu to be vigilant and not allow himself to be misled, alleging that there is a political undertone to Tompolo’s visit.
They expressed concern that surveillance contractors from other regions are “teleguiding” Bayelsa’s affairs by orchestrating chaos and crisis while keeping their own regions peaceful and developed.
Finally, they called on Bayelsans to remain peaceful and law-abiding amid what they described as “political maneuvering by desperate politicians.”
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