Mr. Timi Oluba is a prominent youth leader in Okerenkoko community, Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. Oluba, in this interview, spoke on the prevailing peace and unity among the people of Gbaramatu kingdom and efforts being made by Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo towards human and infrastructure development in Gbaramatu.

The Ijaw youth leader also spoke on the ongoing reconciliation between Tompolo, Chief Michael Johnny, Chief Mosco Johnny and six others who were recently released from detention over dispute bordering on family affairs. Excerpts:

*Tompolo

ON spate of development in the kingdom
It is true that Gbaramatu kingdom is blessed with abundance of oil and human resources, however, the level of development is not encouraging. We have been agitating for rapid development. Get something clear here, the kind of development that we desire for in Gbaramatu can only be provided by governments and not individuals.

I also believe that someday, with our consistent prayers we shall get to the promise land. The people of Gbaramatu should thank God for having a son like Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, whose desire is to see Gbaramatu gets it fair share in the distribution of dividends by governments.

Tompolo that I know would do everything possible to attract what he thinks is good for our people to Gbaramatu kingdom, and gradually we are beginning to understand his vision for the kingdom. Though, Tompolo alone cannot provide the desired development in Gbaramatu, but to an extent, he has tried to do what he could to ensure development in area.

On allegations against  Tompolo by some
Well, sometimes people do disagree to agree. The dispute we had with Tompolo was a family affair. Those allegations were ignorantly made against Tompolo, and it has not changed the fact that Tompolo has good intention for his people and Gbaramatu kingdom.

Truly, some allegations were made against Tompolo, and some of us who had dispute with Tompolo may have been helped by Tompolo in one small way or the other.

But because of human nature, when the gesture seems not to be coming as expected there is every tendency for misunderstanding and I think that was what happened. I can tell you that Chief Michael Johnny, Chief Mosco Johnny and others have nothing personal against Tompolo, it is a matter of ‘live and let us live’ and everybody would be happy thereafter.

Sincerely, Tompolo is a visionary leader, who has done what most of us have not been able to do in Gbaramatu. To be frank with you, a leader is not measured by the money he gives out to people nor the properties he has, but rather his plans for future generations. So, I see Tompolo as a generational leader.

For instance, the Tompolo’s Diving School in Kurutie, when operational would boost the economy of Gbaramatu and physical development. Jobs would be created, economic activities and infrastructural development guaranteed. This is Tompolo’s vision that yet unborn generations in Gbaramatu would benefit from, that is how you classify a real leader.

If it were some selfish individual, they would have preferred to build the School somewhere outside Delta State, or even outside the country, but Tompolo took the wise decision to invest in his community and I encourage other well meaning Nigerians to emulate Tompolo.

Surprisingly, we have discovered that the sitting of the proposed Marine University in Okerenkoko community would not have been possible without Tompolo. Some others would have chosen to collect inducement to have the University relocated, but because Tompolo knew the importance of the University and its viable benefits to future generations of Gbaramatu kingdom, he stood firm and ensure that the University was approved to be sited in Okerenkoko, a community in Gbaramatu.

And that is why as at today, Tompolo is our leader in Gbaramatu and whatever dispute we had with him or allegations made against him has not changed his being our leader and those allegations were mere pretense to get his attention.