MRAI AND PIPELINE SECURITY CONTRACT: AN Appeal to High Chief Ekpemupolo to Consider Allocating Direct Slots to Arogbo-Ijaws

The Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe, MRAI, in Ondo State has appealed to the founder and CEO of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, to consider allocating more slots in the pipeline security contract to Arogbo-Ijaws.

The MRAI made this passionate appeal via a press statement sent to Arogbo-Ibe Voice on August 21, 2024, wherein its appealed to the Tantita boss to allocate direct slots to Arogbo-Ijaw kingdom.

The group, which is made up of concerned youths of Arogbo-Ijaw kingdom, submitted that, their people have been marginalised for far too long in Ondo State as a minority group, and they therefore plead with Tompolo create direct slots in the pipeline security contract for the Arogbo-Ijaws.

The press statement reads in full:

“THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RIGHTS OF AROGBO IBE,

A Humble Appeal for Inclusive Representation in Pipeline Security Contract

We hope this message finds you in good health and high spirit. We are writing to express our heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support and leadership in our region. Your selfless efforts in ensuring justice and equity for your people are truly commendable.

We would like to bring to your attention our concerns regarding the pipeline security contract. While we acknowledge your efforts in allocating slots to your people, we humbly appeal for direct slots to be allocated to Arogbo kingdom. We believe that our people have been suffering for far too long and, we are hopeful that your kind and philanthropic gesture has potential in making it possible for Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom to be given direct pipeline security slots..

We understand that the available slots can adequately take care of our Kingdom and we plead with you, our leader and father, High Chief Ekpemupolo, to reconsider our appeal and give us some of the slots directly. We have vast and gallant men in the struggle who could be bestowed with such mantle of authority to act on your behalf.

We would like to bring to your attention the increasing number of criminal acts bedeviling us in Arogbo kingdom. A lot of atrocities have been committed by our kinsmen but it only takes the grace of God to vanquished them and we are adversely affected by forces beyond our immediate control.

We appeal with you, to overlook our flaws in respect of power propensity and consider our appeal. We are confident that with your support and leadership, we can overcome our challenges and achieve greatness.

We appreciate the fact that High Chief Asonja Idowu of Ilaje extraction is the Chief Coordinator of the Tantita Security Service in Ondo State, who, in turn, appointed Daniel Kpena Kekemeke as the Ese-odo coordinator, and equipped him with all the basic necessities for carrying out security services in coastal Ondo State.

We acknowledge the efforts of High Chief Asonja Idowu in stretching his hands to our kinsman, Daniel Kpena Kekemeke, which led to his appointment as the coordinator of Ese-odo. The MRAI is grateful for this gesture and recognise that without Asonja’s relationship with Kpena, nothing would have been shown for their inclusiveness.

Moreover, we want to state that Asonja and Kpena’s business is a personal one. While we do not undermine the strides of Daniel Kekemeke, We want to also put it out that for Tantita Security Service to be very effective, more hands are needed in the job. Hence, we appeal to High Chief Tompolo to allocate more slots to Arogbo Ibe.

Being a minority group in a predominantly Yoruba State, the Arogbo-Ijaws have been marginalised for far too long, and Tantita Security Service coming from one of our own leaders, we need to be in charge.

We urge High Chief Ekpemupolo, in his love for every Ijaw blood and the Ijaw cause for justice and equality, to address our concerns. We are confident that he will do the right thing and allocate direct slots to Arogbo kingdom”.

Signed:

Comr. Hosea T. Ebikontei
Coordinator MRAI

Comr. Stanley Bomi
Proten Secretary

21th August, 2024