UPU PG Gam Gets 7-Day Ultimatum from Ayoma Over Tantita Comment — Threatens Legal Action

A prominent Urhobo leader and multiple chief, Freeborn Ayoma, has issued a stern ultimatum to the outgoing President General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Barr. Ese Gam, demanding a formal apology to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, operators of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

Chief Ayoma, who is the Otota of Iwhrekreka, a major oil-bearing community, and former President-General of the community, said Chief Gam must publish a duly signed apology in five national newspapers and across all major social media platforms within seven days or face a legal showdown.

Ayoma expressed displeasure over what he termed unwarranted interference by the UPU in matters relating to federal pipeline surveillance contracts, specifically with Tantita Security Services, describing the action of the UPU as misplaced and unbecoming of a reputable socio-cultural organization.

“The duties of UPU as a socio-cultural body is to promote peace and harmony among Urhobo people and with other tribes in Delta and across Nigeria, not to meddle in security contracts awarded to companies like Tantita,” Ayoma said.

He noted with concern that instead of engaging the Federal Government to attract industries and employment opportunities for the teeming population of jobless Urhobo graduates, the UPU has taken a different and counterproductive direction.

“Urhobo has the highest number of tricycle riders (Keke) in Delta State, and the national secretariat of the UPU is in a deplorable condition — like a house of pigs. These are the real issues they should be focused on,” he added.

Chief Ayoma warned that failure by Chief Ese Gam to comply with the demand for public apology would be seen as a deliberate attempt to cause ethnic disaffection between the Urhobo and Ijaw people, which could lead to avoidable conflict.

He also expressed profound appreciation to Tantita Security Services for their dedication in protecting national oil assets and for employing many Urhobo youths in their operations.

“Tantita has proven to be a dependable partner in progress. I commend them and appeal that they continue to maintain the good relationship they have with the Urhobo people,” he concluded.