By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire

OPOROZA—Former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has said that he is not the godfather of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as was being speculated.

Tompolo spoke, yesterday, at the annual Amesiekumor cultural festival in Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, where the Gbaramatu-Ijaw and their kinsmen from other parts of the Niger Delta region endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.

He urged Nigerians and all Deltans to vote for the PDP, adding that President Jonathan and Dr. Okowa were qualified to rule the country.

He said: “Jonathan is the best president we have had. He has already won the election by the grace of God. It is not true that I am Okowa’s godfather. God Himself is the Godfather, as the Okowa/Otuaro choice is the choice of the people.

“We should all support and vote for Jonathan and Okowa. We are reaching out to people of the different ethnic groups. So, victory is ahead,” he added.

He maintained that the Ijaw of Gbaramatu and their Itsekiri neighbours are at peace, adding that after a peace meeting on Friday (today), a date would be announced for the groundbreaking of the multi- billion Delta Gas City, Ogidigben.

Spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Matthew Pudie, told journalists that Amasiekumor is a festival to usher in prosperity and they chose the occasion to offer special prayers and endorse Jonathan’s presidential bid.

He said: “Amasiekumor means no matter how big a problem is, the mother will protect her own. It is the end of affliction, evil and calamity, what progress will follow.”