“Stop Misleading The Public With Your False Entitlement Narratives And Mentality”__Comrade Freeborn Abraye Blasts Daniel Ezekiel, Says The Pipeline Surveillance Contract Awarded To Tompolo Is Not A Dividend Or Settlement For The Niger Delta Struggle -

By Esther David

•••••Says Attempts To Portray The Contract As A “Collective Entitlement” Is An Outright Distortion Of History And Facts.

The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development and Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, blasts Daniel Perela Ezekiel who Claims he and other Niger Deltans deserve a share of High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo)’s pipeline surveillance contract.

Describing the position as “politically deceptive, intellectually dishonest, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the people of the Niger Delta,” Comrade Abraye maintained that the pipeline surveillance contract should not be confused with intervention programmes established by the Federal Government in response to the region’s long-standing grievances.

According to Comrade Abraye, the pipeline surveillance contract is not a compensation package, settlement, dividend or proceeds of the Niger Delta struggle. Anyone attempting to portray it as such is deliberately distorting history and misleading the public for political convenience.

He argued that every informed Niger Deltan is aware that the Federal Government has, over the years, established several interventionist agencies and mechanisms intended to address the developmental and economic concerns in the Niger Delta region.

Abraye listed the different interventionist agencies established by the Federal Government as forms of settlement for the Niger Delta struggle. Which he said includes; the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), the Former Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Constitutional 13% Derivation Funds, and the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

Comrade Abraye contended that these institutions represent the government’s intervention framework for the region, whereas pipeline surveillance contracts are security and asset-protection arrangements awarded at the discretion of the Federal Government.

“A surveillance contract is a security engagement designed to protect critical national oil and gas infrastructure. It is not a political sharing formula, nor is it a regional compensation scheme where every individual who identifies as a Niger Deltan automatically becomes entitled to a portion.”__Abraye Said

He further argued that the history of pipeline surveillance contracts demonstrates that they have been awarded to different companies and individuals over the years based on government decisions, and not exclusively as benefits tied to participation in the Niger Delta agitation.

Pointing to previous contract awards, Abraye asserted that if the surveillance contract were truly intended as compensation or settlement for the Niger Delta struggle, it would not have been awarded to individuals like the late Capt. Hosa Okunbo and his Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS) company, and Olu of Itsekiri Tsola Emiko and his Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) company. Who according to him never took part in the Niger Delta struggle.

“The facts speak for themselves. The Federal Government has, at different times, awarded surveillance contracts to different operators. That reality alone completely destroys the false narrative peddled by Daniel Perela Ezekiel, that the contract is a compensation package for the Niger Delta struggle.”

Comrade Abraye accused Daniel Perela Ezekiel of attempting to inflame public sentiment and outrage by creating what he described as a false sense of collective entitlement. Which according to him is capable of causing chaos, instability and threatening the fragile peace in the Niger Delta region.

“It is irresponsible to deceive young people into believing that Tompolo’s contract belongs to every Niger Deltan simply because they come from the region. Public discourse must be guided by facts, not propaganda, cheap blackmails, misinformation or political opportunism.”

Comrade Freeborn Abraye therefore called on Niger Delta stakeholders, youth organizations and community leaders to reject the false narrative spread by Daniel Perela Ezekiel which could fuel unnecessary division in the region. He urged them to instead, focus on protecting national assets, sustaining peace and promoting economic development throughout the region.

Signed:
Comrade Freeborn Abraye
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development and Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ).