The Northern Youth Council has given the Federal Government a seven-day deadline to withdraw the N4 billion pipeline surveillance contract given to former Niger Delta militant commander, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The organization demanded that Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources be fired immediately.
The NYC stated that the contract was unnecessary and added that by doing so, the regime was encouraging militancy.
The council said it would organize Northern youths across the nation for a huge protest and take legal action if the government did not act after the specified deadline has passed, according to a statement released on Sunday by the group’s spokesperson, Matazu Yusuf.
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The statement partly read:
“We are issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government or its agent to revoke the N4 billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.”
“Tompolo received a contract despite being wanted by the government a few years ago. This is irrational. The late former president Musa Yaradua’s amnesty agreement, which was intended to lessen instability in the oil region, is in danger of disintegrating as a result of this incident.”
“The government should rather hire the services of Joints Task Force instead of a militant without a clear modus operandi”
“We also called for the sack of the Minister of State for Petroleum over the award of the contract.”
“If after the given ultimatum, no action is taken, we will mobilise over 20,000 northern youths for a massive protest and afterward challenge the decision in court.”
Yusuf further charged that Gen. Lucky Irabor, the head of the military, had played the ethnic game by handing terrorists control of the nation’s vital infrastructure.
He mentioned that the organization has sent a letter of protest to President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
