By Isaac Olamikan
High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo(aka Tompolo) as at his last birthday clocked 52 years. The wisdom packed in those 52 years cannot be traded in the market place. In the days when militancy was riding high in the creeks and streets of the Niger Delta region Tompolo’s words were orders that must be carried out to the letter.
He was the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) which was fighting for the cause of a better Niger Delta where government presence will lift the living conditions of the people from whose soil and rivers the golden product(oil) which Nigerians all depend on as source of revenue is explored.
You can never be told of any time in the course of this resource control war when Tompolo acted abnormally by way of giving people drastic inhuman treatment just because they are under his captivity or they are his subordinate.
A priest of his traditional worship team, Tompolo is a man who is blessed with the God endowed ability to lead others. For those who know him they will give you hordes of reports of instances where he has used his leadership qualities to preach peace and to give judgement when there seem to be chaos on the horizon.
It is a well know fact that the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro was a nominee of Tompolo for the position. There are other personalities who have Tompolo to thank for his mentorship in their rise in the political ladder. Such set of his mentees will always have good things to say about him.
A philantropist of high repute, Tompolo is reputed to have many people under his wings whom he provides for within the limit of the resources available to him.
His lifestyle is a reflection of a man with a focus whose thoughts is always about how his people would live a life of comfort that will reflect the beneficial effect of the God given resources within their environment.
Tompolo is known to oppose criminalities as it is being practiced by some rascals of his Ijaw nation stock to the extent that he confronts them openly telling them that agitation for the goodies of life for the downtrodden Niger Delta people is miles away from criminalities.
Festus Alenkhe is a journalist of high repute. He is a crime reporter who has been on the crime reporting beat for decades. He is better described as an expert in Crime reporting cum security expert. His popular catch line, ‘how do you feel now’ in his well watched programme, Crime Watch aired on Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) TV is a must watch for viewers.
Alenkhe’s cult like followership in Edo State is infectious. In the countdown to the Edo NUJ elections in 2021, he came up with a booklet listing over two dozen projects/programmes he would under take when he assumes office.
For a three year tenure Alenkhe has done close to 90 percent of the projects he listed in his manifesto. Alenkhe has brought in a modicum of peace, progress and belief in his ability to do so much even with limited resources.
The Edo NUJ Secretariat which hitherto was looking like a slum is now looking so gay and well refurbished. Callers at the Secretariat will not stop applauding Alenkhe’s golden touch’s reflection in the premises.
This duo, Tompolo and Alenkhe, are the poster boys of the not too young to rule campaign which is gaining ground around the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Isaac Olamikan is a campaigner for a better Nigeria.
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