Stop Military Deployment In Niger Delta And Develop The Region- Tompolo Tells FG

Former militant leader, Tompolo has come out to warned Federal government against continued deployment of military operatives to the Niger Delta region.

According to him the Federal Government should channel the resources it has devoted to deploy military hardwares to develop local communities in the region.

Tompolo in a statement signed by his media coordinator, Paul Bebeminibo said the continued deployment of military personnel would not solve the problem of the region.

While regretting many projects initiated by the previous administration which has been abandoned by the current government, he said the government should focus on developmental projects and see how stable the region will be.

The statement reads in part:
''The continuous military deployment to the region will not solve the problem of the age long criminal neglect of the region by government. It must be pointed out that mere acknowledgement of the fast deteriorating condition of the Niger Delta region by government is not enough to solve the problems there. Rather, the Federal Government needs to put up a strong political will to the address the issue of lack of development in the region.

At the last count, there are over 20 military houseboats in the creeks of Gbaramatu kingdom alone. So much is provided by the government in taking care of the military men in the region without achieving the purpose they are being drafted to the area as the agitation for development of the region continues on daily bases. Government cannot continue to harass and intimidate the people of the region with military might. What the region needs is simply development. And that is what the previous administration meant when it established the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

The previous government also approved the electrification of Escravos and environs, which has gone half-way, only to be discontinued by the present administration.''