In a moment heavy with symbolism, tradition and political gravitas, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) on Thursday made a high-profile courtesy visit to the Yenagoa residence of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, in what observers have described as a significant convergence of Ijaw leadership and influence.
The visit came shortly after Tompolo’s condolence engagement with the Governor of Bayelsa State. True to Ijaw customs that place premium on honour, respect and ancestral hierarchy, the Gbaramatu-born leader proceeded to Yenagoa to personally pay homage and exchange warm courtesies with Nigeria’s former president.
Sources at the meeting confirmed that the interaction was cordial, strategic and deeply rooted in shared cultural identity, reflecting long-standing bonds within the Ijaw nation and a collective commitment to peace, stability and the advancement of the Niger Delta.
Tompolo arrived with a formidable entourage that underscored the weight of the visit. Members of his delegation included billionaire oil and gas magnate Engr. Matthew Tonlagha, Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, a serving member of the House of Representatives, High Chief Dennis Otuaro, Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, as well as other influential leaders from the Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Political watchers say the visit goes beyond courtesy, signaling renewed alignment among key Ijaw stakeholders and reinforcing Tompolo’s evolving stature as a central figure in regional cohesion and leadership diplomacy. It also reaffirms the enduring relevance of former President Jonathan as a respected elder statesman and moral compass within the Niger Delta.
The Yenagoa meeting stands as a bold statement of unity, respect for ancestral values, and the continuing dialogue among Ijaw power blocs at a critical time in the region’s socio-political landscape.
