By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire
WARRI — Former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has said that the only way the Federal Government would win the hearts of repentant former fighters, who are undergoing training at Obubra camp in Cross River State, and sustain the post-amnesty programme, was for it to provide jobs for skilled former militants, who had successfully completed the non-violence training.

Tompolo, who said that nobody should prevent President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State from contesting the 2011 presidential and governorship elections respectively,  if they so desired, noted that in the case of President Jonathan, people should cease from distracting him from his programmes.

Tompolo, who was escorted by Mobile policemen, spoke at Ogulagha community, his maternal home in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, where he was treated to a  reception by the people for his contributions to the liberation of the region.

He spoke through his Media Consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo. He said, “non- violence training on itself cannot give confidence, what will give confidence is provision of jobs for the skilled among the graduands. This will spur others to go for the training without doubt in their minds.”

“I want everybody to support the President to develop the whole country. People should not distract him with calls that he cannot contest the 2011 election. He needs to be focused to deliver.

We want rapid development and he should treat every region the same way so that there will be no insinuations that he is focusing on his region alone.  I don’t want him to lose focus of the Niger Delta question and to remember too that he is from here.”

“We should know that it is the electorate through their votes that can stop the President from contesting the elections.

If they want him back, they will vote for him. It is not for some people to decide alone,” he added.

On Governor Uduaghan’s second term bid, he said, “if he wants to run for a second term, the constitution grants it, he is free to run, no one has the right to stop him, he is a Nigerian.”