{"id":1391,"date":"2022-01-25T14:57:33","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T13:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes557122118.wordpress.com\/2022\/01\/25\/delta-2023-how-james-iboris-visit-to-tompolo-stirs-up-mixed-reactions-amongst-deltans\/"},"modified":"2022-01-25T14:57:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T13:57:33","slug":"delta-2023-how-james-iboris-visit-to-tompolo-stirs-up-mixed-reactions-amongst-deltans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/01\/25\/delta-2023-how-james-iboris-visit-to-tompolo-stirs-up-mixed-reactions-amongst-deltans\/","title":{"rendered":"DELTA 2023: How James Ibori’s Visit To Tompolo Stirs Up Mixed Reactions Amongst Deltans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Coastal News <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FORMER  Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, visited  ex-Niger-Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, at the riverside Oporoza community, Traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, at the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for the meeting has not been made public but coming barely 48 hours after the caucus meeting of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  and the party\u2019s eye-catching mega rally at Asaba, in the last four days, the meeting of both political and ex-militant leaders caused a stir in the state\u2019s political circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vanguard reliably learned the news of Ibori\u2019s visit to Tompolo got to the Government House, Asaba, yesterday, and some people were discussing the matter in hushed tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a dependable source, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said: \u201cIt is true that Ibori met with Tompolo but it is not over his (Ibori\u2019s) interest in 2023 governorship project. No, it is not politics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that it is over Ibori\u2019s business interests. The former governor has some business concerns in the oil industry. He visited Tompolo and they discussed in that direction, not about politics,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another privileged source explained: \u201cOur  national leader, James Ibori, paid a private visit to his friend and younger brother,  Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo,   in far away Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the creeks of the Niger Delta where issues bothering on the progress of the Niger Delta region were discussed like tackling of piracy, unemployment, illegal bunkering which has contributed to the drastic reduction of oil production from two million barrels and the loss of revenue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIbori also commended Tompolo for his commitment in assisting the government and security agencies to sustain the relative peace in the region so far and he further pledged his support in continuing to agitate for the betterment of the region that lays the golden egg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c Ibori was accompanied in the visit by his Chief of Staff, Olatunji Olusoji who is also a Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties to the Governor of Delta State Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Chief Azikiwe Ako; Henry Uduaghan,   Deputy chief of Staff and a host of others,\u201d the source stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Available information show the former governor was known to be projecting his former Commissioner for Finance and ex-Chief of Staff, Government House, Olorogun David Edevbie, to take over from the incumbent governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in 2023, but he, Okowa and others leaders have not struck any agreement on the matter until date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibori\u2019s ally, former commissioner and deputy national organizing secretary of PDP, Ighoyota Amori, is leading the Delta Central, DC-23, an Urhobo lobby group for 2023 governorship for Delta Central.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Okowa\u2019s choice of his successor is still unknown but he has made it copiously clear that God would determine his successor in 2023. Last Saturday at the party\u2019s mega rally in Asaba, the governor further assured that under his watch, his party would ensure free and fair governorship primaries for aspirants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the said rally, Ibori, previously caught in a face-up with Okowa, over his successor, admitted openly that the governor is a good leader and has provided good governance for the state, saying he would support him to finish strong in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ijaw ethnic nationality in Delta South senatorial district, which Tompolo hails from, with Itsekiri and Isoko nationalities as the other two constituent tribes, also want to produce the next governor of the state.
Former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, is marshaling the Ijaw battle for PDP governorship ticket for 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the PDP mega rally former State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Cyril Ogodo, Chairman of Elders Council of the APC in Delta Central, Sylvester Kohwo, Mr Sylvester Imonina,Ben Onwuka, Victor Sorokwu, Ben Ijoma,   Peter Dodobi,   Andy Una, Patrick Okonkwo, Victor Enuma, Sylvester Ogbukunu, John Araka, Ozegbe Edwin,  Harrison Abuge and thousands of their followers from the wards, local government areas and three senatorial districts in the state, decamped to PDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Vanguard News Nigeria.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coastal News FORMER  Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, visited  ex-Niger-Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, alias…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14,15],"tags":[231,372],"class_list":["post-1391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","category-politics","tag-james-onanefe-ibori","tag-tompolo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/screenshot_20220125-144500_whatsapp-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C813&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1645,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/03\/13\/just-in-james-ibori-uduaghan-eghagha-others-to-attend-amoris-declaration-of-interest-for-senate-come-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":1391,"position":0},"title":"JUST IN: James Ibori, Uduaghan, Eghagha, Others To Attend Amori’s Declaration Of Interest For Senate Come 2023","author":"Coastal Times","date":"March 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Senator Ighoyota Amori, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, has been officially declared for the Delta Central Senatorial seat in the 2023 general elections. On Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 12 p.m., Amori, who is now the PDP's Deputy National Organising Secretary,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/img-20220313-wa0004-e1647165887819-1.jpg?fit=640%2C844&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/img-20220313-wa0004-e1647165887819-1.jpg?fit=640%2C844&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/img-20220313-wa0004-e1647165887819-1.jpg?fit=640%2C844&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1742,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/03\/19\/delta-2023-amori-officially-declares-for-delta-central-senatorial-seat-as-james-ibori-others-attends-occasion\/","url_meta":{"origin":1391,"position":1},"title":"DELTA 2023: Amori Officially Declares For Delta Central Senatorial Seat, As James Ibori, Others Attends Occasion","author":"Coastal Times","date":"March 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News In the 2023 general election, Chief Ighoyota Amori, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, has formally declared for the Delta Central Senatorial seat. Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Dr. Emanuel Uduaghan (Represented), Governorship Aspirants, highly respected elders, and party\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-4.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-4.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-4.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-4.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1735,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/03\/19\/elta-2023-amori-officially-declares-for-delta-central-senatorial-seat-as-james-ibori-others-attends-occasion\/","url_meta":{"origin":1391,"position":2},"title":"DELTA 2023: Amori Officially Declares For Delta Central Senatorial Seat, As James Ibori, Others Attends Occasion","author":"Coastal Times","date":"March 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In the 2023 general election, Chief Ighoyota Amori, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, has formally declared for the Delta Central Senatorial seat. Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Dr. Emanuel Uduaghan (Represented), Governorship Aspirants, highly respected elders, and party leaders from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-2.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-2.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-2.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/image_750x_6235e22747fd9-2.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4891,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/15\/breaking-tompolo-donates-%e2%82%a610-billion-to-delta-state-security-trust-fund\/","url_meta":{"origin":1391,"position":3},"title":"BREAKING: Tompolo Donates \u20a610 Billion To Delta State Security Trust Fund","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye. In a historic show of support for the Delta State Government\u2019s commitment to strengthening peace and security, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has announced a \u20a610 billion contribution to the Delta State Security Trust Fund. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_3820.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_3820.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_3820.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_3820.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4963,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/27\/delta-lawmaker-hon-anthony-alapala-cautions-mischief-makers-from-linking-tompolo-to-21-day-ultimatum-on-nnamdi-kanus-detention-says-tompolo-has-no-business-with-kanus-detention\/","url_meta":{"origin":1391,"position":4},"title":"Delta Lawmaker, Hon Anthony Alapala Cautions Mischief-Makers From Linking Tompolo To 21-Day Ultimatum On Nnamdi Kanu\u2019s Detention, Says Tompolo Has No Business With Kanu\u2019s Detention","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Ebiowei Gabriel Hon. Alapala Anthony Ebitonmo member representing Burutu Constituency 1, Delta State House of Assembly fiercely caution traducers slanderers, defamers vilifiers, maligners, libelers from making untrue and malicious publications against my father High Chief Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo. It's baseless, unscrupulous to link Tompolo my father to 21-days\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4338-1.jpg?fit=988%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4338-1.jpg?fit=988%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4338-1.jpg?fit=988%2C808&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4338-1.jpg?fit=988%2C808&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4438,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/19\/the-factual-definition-of-tompolo-and-what-he-stands-for\/","url_meta":{"origin":1391,"position":5},"title":"The Factual Definition Of Tompolo And What He Stands For","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin Factual Definition of Tompolo and What It Means Tompolo: The Definition Beyond Definition He is not born. He is revealed. He is not merely Government Ekpemupolo by name; he is the echo of centuries of pain and the voice of a people too long unheard. He is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1078-1.jpg?fit=236%2C214&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-mr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1391\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}