Pipeline Surveillance : NDSF Again, Fires At Olu Of Warri

**Asks Monarch To Come Clean Over Mismanagement of $3.9M Monthly Surveillance Contract

The Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Forum (NDSF) has alleged that incompetence and non performance made against Pipelines Infrastructures Nigerian Limited (PINL), owned by the the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase III in the handling of the Trans – Forcados Pipelines network system surveillance and protection contract led to the termination of the $3.9M Monthly Contract by the NNPCL

The group said that Chief Government Chief Ekpemupolo, (alias Tompolo) and his security firm, Tanitita Security Services Nigeria Limited should not be dragged into the woes of the Olu of Warri and his PINL, saying that “Tantita cannot be blame for PINL losses”.

According to the group also, the same accusations of negligence, dereliction of duty and outright incompetence, in the handling of the Rivers State pipelines contract was also in the card.

The Group in a Statement on Saturday signed by Chief Julius Daukoru declared that; “They know PINL has no boots in the field, hence his areas of operation are porous and easily accessible to oil thieves.

NDSF while blasting the Olu of Warri asked the monarch to provide answers to posers over his incompetence and incapacity saying that maligning Tompolo’s Tanitita over the termination of PINL Trans-Forcados Pipeline Network System Contract was not going to change the facts.

The narrative, Chief Julius Daukoru, said has drifted from showcasing concrete facts and evidence, into worthless diatribes and ethnic smearing and accusations, which is unhealthy for the spirit of brotherhood and peace being enjoyed in Warri and environs, in recent times.

According to him, no amount of propaganda, names – calling and lies could take the place of truth, nor supplant facts, adding that only a person who schemes in unwholesome intentions, would dance in the market place and then turnaround to allege that someone did it to impugn his character – as if the watching public was blindfolded.

He wrote that; “The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwase III, was recently fingered for masterminding the Itsekiri Lagos protests and similar campaigns of attrition, against Tantita and Chief Government Ekpemupolo, over the termination of his PINL, Trans – Forcados Pipelines surveillance contract”.

“To mask his involvement, the Royal Father is fighting ferociously – firing from all cylinders to exonerate his name, and cover up the unsavoury show of shame, carried out by his allies and hirelings, especially an Itsekiri oil thief ally of his, who lately has been hibernating in Lagos, from where he perpetuated and coordinated his illicit trade of illegal oil bunkering”, Chief Julius Daukoru added.

He stated that writing under duplicitous, faceless names and groups, like, the Niger Delta Watch and Children of Drivers and fishermen, the monarch accused Tantita of adopting Nollywood style in its assignment to secure and protect pipelines in the Niger Delta Region, adding that! “They further alleged that Tompolo and Tantita are playing up ethnic supremacy to harass and intimidate PINL workers, in order to sabotage the nation’s oil assets”.

While saying that the foregoing are weighty accusations that demanded proof and authentication, noted that had these allegations been made by the management of Pipelines Infrastructures Nigerian Limited (PINL), owned by the monarch, they would have been taken seriously.

“But as it is, they were made by Children of Drivers and Fishermen – nonexistent nomenclature, hirelings, writing in the corridors of the Olu Palace in Warri. No one should therefore take them serious, as Tantita has done. They merely casted about and avoided the real issue in context, namely: incompetence and non performance made against the Olu of Warri’s PINL, in the handling of the Trans – Forcados Pipelines network system surveillance and protection contract”, he said.

Here Is The Full Statement From The Group, NDSF:

NIGER DELTA STAKEHOLDERS’ FORUM (NDSF)

MALIGNING TOMPOLO’S TANTITA OVER THE TERMINATION OF PINL TRANS – FORCADOS PIPELINES NETWORK SYSTEM CONTRACT WON’T CHANGE THE FACTS

The narrative has drifted from showcasing concrete facts and evidence, into worthless diatribes and ethnic smearing and accusations, which is unhealthy for the spirit of brotherhood and peace we enjoy in Warri and environs, in recent times.

In fact, no amount of propaganda, names – calling and lies can take the place of truth, nor supplant facts. Only a person who schemes in unwholesome intentions, would dance in the market place and then turnaround to allege that someone did it to impugn his character – as if the watching public was blindfolded.

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwase III, was recently fingered for masterminding the Itsekiri Lagos protests and similar campaigns of attrition, against Tantita and Chief Government Ekpemupolo, over the termination of his PINL, Trans – Forcados Pipelines surveillance contract.

To mask his involvement, the Royal Father is fighting ferociously – firing from all cylinders to exonerate his name, and cover up the unsavoury show of shame, carried out by his allies and hirelings, especially an Itsekiri oil thief ally of his, who lately has been hibernating in Lagos, from where he perpetuated and coordinated his illicit trade of illegal oil bunkering.

Writing under duplicitous, faceless names and groups, like, the Niger Delta Watch and Children of Drivers and fishermen, the monarch accused Tantita of adopting Nollywood style in its assignment to secure and protect pipelines in the Niger Delta.

They further alleged that Tompolo and Tantita are playing up ethnic supremacy to harass and intimidate PINL workers, in order to sabotage the nation’s oil assets.

The foregoing are weighty accusations that demand proof and authentication. Had these allegations been made by the management of Pipelines Infrastructures Nigerian Limited (PINL), owned by the monarch, they would have been taken seriously.

But as it is, they were made by Children of Drivers and Fishermen – nonexistent nomenclature, hirelings, writing in the corridors of the Olu Palace in Warri. No one should therefore take them serious, as Tantita has done.

They merely casted about and avoided the real issue in context, namely: incompetence and non performance made against the Olu of Warri’s PINL, in the handling of the Trans – Forcados Pipelines network system surveillance and protection contract.

The same accusations of negligence, dereliction of duty and outright incompetence, in the handling of the Rivers State pipelines contract is also in the card. The public may be fooled, but he can’t pull the wool over the eyes of the authorities. They know PINL has no boots in the field, hence his areas of operation are porous and easily accessible to oil thieves.

If Tantita uses Nollywood methods to apprehend crude bunkering vessels and equipment and as well arrest oil thieves. Many of whom are undergoing prosecution, why has the Olu of Warri’s PINL not use similar style in its operations?

At least some results would have been achieved, to give credit to PINL activities – as it goes about discharging its obligations to the contract. The facts however are in contradistinction to his claims.

The monarch’s workforce is not on ground anywhere in the Niger Delta Region, but maybe on paper. The fragrance of a soap is savoured in the bathroom. He can’t browbeat the authorities to acquiesce. They know the truth, that his company performed miserably.

What may be taken from both publications by his unserious hirelings, the Niger Delta Watch and the ridiculous Children of Drivers and Fishermen, is that, they are completely ignorant of the subject matter they were summoned to address.

Neither were they properly briefed before they went on the rampage. They wrote disjointedly and could not defend the allegation of incompetence and non performance on the field levelled against PINL.

How could the roughnecks imply that the Nigerian Navy had problems with Tantita, and Tompolo had to use top government connections in Abuja to sweep the matter under the carpet? May be this was to instigate the Navy against Tantita. But it was a shot fired in the dark. It failed to hit the bullseye.

The Nigerian Navy is one of the best in Africa, and with some of the finest personnel. Tantita can never rub shoulders with them. All previous misunderstandings they had WERE amicably cleared, they now collaborate to secured the Federal Government oil assets.

So far a lot has been said about Tantita’s transparent style of operation, both here and in previous accounts of the outfit’s performance.

Interestingly enough, a prominent Itsekiri and close ally of the Olu of Warri, Mr. Godwin Ebosa, in a full page publication on Page 13, in the Vanguard of Friday, May 3rd, 2024, admitted that the Itsekiri ethnic nationality has benefitted immensely from the Tantita contract.

He further admitted being a sub-contractor to Tantita and that the private security outfit employed many of his kinsman. He also added that as a sub contractor, he employed over 200 workers, mostly of Itsekiri to work in his area of supervision.

He wrote, ” Like it was mentioned in some of the publications, I am one Itsekiri that has benefitted as a sub – contractor to Tantita to handle some portions of the surveillance job.

There others too, and like me, all Itsekiri sub – contractors employ many Itsekiri in the project. I, for one, employed over 200 Itsekiris in various capacities.”

The Itsekiri elite also acknowledged that Tantita had delivered on its mandate to the satisfaction of the critical stakeholders.

These include, Mr. President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the National Assembly, top brass of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic and members of the NUJ.

The publication by Godwin Ebosa therefore cast doubts on the frivolous claims of the Olu’s hirelings. Taking his narrative further, he said,

” So, it is untrue to state that Itsekiri are marginalized and not benefitting from the project being handled by Tantita. It is on this premise that I appeal for calm among those involved in the diatribe – contracts are not won or awarded through protest and propaganda.”

The foregoing narrative on the protests and accusations are explicit enough. It cleared every misconception for those uninformed. The facts speak for themselves.

Tantita cannot be blame for PINL losses. It shot itself in the foot for incompetence and dereliction of duties. No amount of papering over the cracks would change the facts.

SIGNED:
CHIEF JULIUS DAUKORU