Northern youths under the aegis of the Arewa Youths Assembly have warned the Federal Government against awarding a contract for oil pipelines surveillance to ex-Niger Delta militant, Oweizide Ekpemupolo, also known as Government Tompolo.
The Arewa group gave the warning in a statement by its leader, Abdulsalam Mohammed-Kazeem, in Kaduna.
They accused Tompolo and others of allegedly showing disrespect for the rule of law and regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The group said, “Information at the disposal of the Arewa Youth Assembly is that the NNPC limited under the leadership of Mallam Mpele Kolo Kyari and the Federal Government is planning to assign the job of pipelines surveillance to an enemy of the state, a militant, a renowned pipeline vandaliser, Oweizide Ekpemupolo popularly known as Government Tompolo.
“As youths of this region who have been keen observers of governance as it affects the citizens and the nation in general, we will not fold our hands and watch the government make such a grave mistake of awarding a sensible contract of this nature to him.
“We therefore as a matter of national urgency advice, beg, call and plead with the NNPC LTD to save our national asset by not awarding it to Tompolo, as the effect will be deleterious to the nation’s economy.”