By Emma Amaize

ASABA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to resolve the no love lost relationship between former militant and Ijaw leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and Itsekiri youth leader, Chief Ayiri Emami, which blew open, weekend, at his meeting with them in Asaba, the state capital.

He also asked the governor to ensure that the two Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders from the riverine Kurutie community, Gb

*Tompolo

aramatu Kingdom and Ugborodo respectively in Warri South-West Local Government Area work as friends, henceforth, with respect to the $16 billion Delta Gas City project, which groundbreaking had been rescheduled for March 15.

A source who was at the meeting, told Vanguard that “Even though the president broke the protracted deadlock on the groundbreaking ceremony, it was obvious to him that there was a cold war between Tompolo and Ayiri, the resolution of which is critical, not just to the groundbreaking, but to the project itself after the foundational ceremony. That was why he instructed the governor to work out an acceptable position with the parties before the groundbreaking.

“He believes that Governor Uduaghan knows and understands the two warring leaders more than he does, and as the chief security officer of the state, he is in a better position to settle the bone of contention between them,” the source added.

Following the presidential directive, the governor is expected to call a meeting of all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in the next few days, to discuss and fine-tune arrangements for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Delta Gas City project.

“Of course, Tompolo and Ayiri will attend the meeting. They are the principal actors, whose opinions cannot be ignored for a successful groundbreaking, as well as peaceful operation at the Delta Gas City project site subsequently,” the source added.