By Emma Amaize
WARRI—A group, Federated Niger-Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), yesterday deplored the contention of some members of Ijaw Youth Leadership Forum (IYLF) at a recent meeting in Delta State that militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, would not surrender arms, saying it was against the position of the entire people of Gbaramatu kingdom to which Tompolo belongs.

In a statement jointly signed by its president and adviser, Chiefs Bello Oboko and Godwspower Gbenekama respectively, FNDIC posited that on return from exile, His Royal Majesty, Pere Godwin Bebenimibo, Ogeh Gbaran III and members of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders had since September 7 declared the acceptance of Federal Government’s amnesty by the Gbaramatu kingdom.

“To, therefore, say without strategy that Tompolo won’t surrender arms is not in the best interest of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

“It is capable of rendering Gbaramatu Kingdom to yet another avoidable massive extra-judicial military aggression. Fears are more so because it is now again capable of setting an alien MEND agenda for variant reasons, and compelling Tompolo to implement same in Gbararmatu Kingdom.

“This is an affront  to widespread acceptance  of the Federal Government’s amnesty  by  HRM  Pere  Godwin  K. Bebenimibo,  Ogeh  Gbaran III, and the good people of Gbaramatu  Kingdom, Chief  E. K. Clark, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), FNDIC,  amongst other well-meaning Nigerians and the International Community, thereby wrongfully presenting Tompolo as acting out of step with the commonality of purpose.

The Tompolo we know used to act, only in legitimacy,” the group said.

Continuing, it said the “FNDIC and all concerned  citizens of Gbaramatu Kingdom cannot  afford  to stand  aside or aloof and  watch  the unfortunate  E. K. Clark  treatment by MEND  being  meted  out on   HRM,  Pere Godwin K. Bebenimibo, Ogeh Gbaran III, as if there are no longer leaders and elders in the Niger Delta.

“We loathe  any further acts of declaration of war upon the good people of  Gbaramatu  Kingdom  who are not  prepared  for any  war against  the Nigerian state.

“We cannot afford another war so soon  because Gbaramatu  kingdom is yet to come out  of the pangs of bomb  explosions,  guns booming and patriots being  declared  wanted  by  JTF  in May, 2009.”

On the October 4 deadline for acceptance of amnesty, FNDIC stated that it was necessary  to appeal to the federal government on the dire need to consider carrying forward the October 4, 2009 closing date of the amnesty, if only to satisfy all righteousness.