By Emma Amaize

WARRI—EX-MILITANT leader and founding member of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, met, yesterday, with the influential Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, headed by Pa J. Ayomike, in Warri, Delta State.

The purpose of the meeting was not made public, but Vanguard gathered that the Itsekiri leaders, who interfaced with Tompolo for the first time, were happy with the discussion.

Secretary of the ILT, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, who confirmed the meeting on phone, said: “It was a private visit, not political.”

He said it was a bridge-building effort and spoke on how Ijaw and Itsekiri could live and work together.

Our source, said: “Tompolo’s meeting with ILT is part of his ongoing consultation with the leaders of the different ethnic groups in the state aimed at forging unity and understanding.”

The source said Tompolo was not happy that some people have a wrong impression of him as a war monger and part of the reason for the visit to the Itsekiri leaders was to correct the erroneous notion that he was planning war against the ethnic group.

“The Itsekiri leaders were happy to see him and they agreed that the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups ought to be reaching out and dialoguing on issues. Both sides promised to keep their communication lines open,” the source added.