In a dramatic and historic turn of events, the High Chief of the Niger Delta, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, on Tuesday stormed the Delta State Government House, Asaba, where he held a closed-door meeting with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The visit, which sent political ripples across the state, marks the first time in Delta’s history that a sitting governor has officially hosted Tompolo; a development many describe as a major milestone in the region’s evolving political and security landscape.
Tompolo, revered across the Niger Delta as The Father Igologolo I, arrived in a powerful entourage that included High Chief Kestin Pondi, Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, and High Chief Ekomiyenyefa Udoh, among other notable figures from the region.
They were warmly received by Governor Oborevwori and the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, at the Government House complex in Asaba.
Though the details of the closed-door session remain undisclosed, political observers are unanimous that the encounter signals a strategic rapprochement between the state government and one of the Niger Delta’s most influential figures.
“This is not just a courtesy call, it is a statement of mutual recognition,” said a senior government source who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The presence of Tompolo in the seat of power represents a handshake between grassroots influence and institutional authority in Delta State.”
Tompolo’s presence in Government House, once an unthinkable prospect during the height of regional militancy, underscores how far the Niger Delta’s political evolution has come. His company, Tantita Security Services, currently plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s crude oil pipelines under a federal surveillance contract.
The visit is being widely interpreted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration on security, environmental, and economic issues affecting oil-producing communities in Delta State.
“It’s a watershed moment,” noted a political analyst in Warri. “Oborevwori’s decision to open the doors of Government House to Tompolo breaks new ground and may redefine the interface between state authority and Niger Delta leadership.”
Although neither the governor nor Tompolo issued an official statement after the meeting, the symbolism was loud enough: Delta’s most powerful political figure meeting the region’s most influential traditional and security voice.
The mood at Government House was described as cordial and purposeful, with both sides exchanging pleasantries and committing to deepening peace and cooperation across the state.
As observers said: “The handshake in Asaba today may well shape the next chapter of Delta’s political and security equilibrium.”
