From his humble background in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, the name, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, AKA, Tompolo, is now a household name across Nigeria, nay the entire world. It resonates with different meanings in different settings.
To some, he is a Lion, To Some, He Is A Tiger, To Many, He Is The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Of Niger Delta Waters, To Some He Is the Niger Delta rights activist, who forced the hand of the federal government to a peace deal for his people in the Niger Delta in October 2009, to others, he is a successful businessman and philanthropist extraordinary But, lots of people believed he is a “CIVIC NATIONALIST,” the unseen civic force in ljaw land and beyond, though he hasn’t shown interest in contesting for any elective position.
A longmaker and civic nationalist per excellence, whose political cum social influence and sagacity traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria’s High Chief (Dr.) Govemment Ekpemupolo was born on April 12th, 1971. in Gbaramatu kingdom, in today’s Warri South West LGA of Delta State. He had his early education at Ogeh Primary School, Kunukunuma, Gbaramatu Kingdom and later attended the National Comprehensive College, Warri, Delta State, for his secondary school education. The young High Chief (Dr.) Ekpemupolo had early political awareness, which tumed out to be part of his early education as well.
After his secondary education, the man Tompolo opted for business and became a contractor to multinational oil companies operating in the Warri environs, providing support services to them.
Realising quite early in life that financial power and economic empowerment were requisite tools to give voice to a people, he resolved to pursue business interests in order to garner financial muscles for the accomplishment of the tasks he decided to pursue in his entire lifetime liberating his people. As his business grew, he began to coordinate various activities to give voice to his people. He initiated the liberation struggle from his Gbaramatu homestead, as he coordinated efforts to free his immediate environment from shackles of poverty, oppression and political marginalization, before his focus on the general good of the entire Niger Delta.
Till date, as a nationalist, he remains an advocate of justice, peace, equity and fairness in the Niger Delta, Hence, his unwavering crusade for good governance in Nigeria and a good standard of living for the people of the Niger Delta. High Chief (Dr.) Government Ekpemupolo is all round appreciated by the jaws nation in particular, for his political sagacity, especially in the thrust to bring the ljaw into an inclusive Nigeria, where everyone is equal. He remains ljaw unifying factor and rallying point.
The Niger Delta youths uprising of the late 1990s to 2009 in which Tornpolo played an active role, achieved quite a lot for the region. The Federal Govemment responded mouthy to the many complaints of the region, such as, political and economic marginalization, exclusion and neglect. And it followed up with many mouth-watering offers to douse the tension in the region
Some of the gains of that era include the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the creation of the Social Economic Council for Coastal States of Nigeria, the establishment of the Ministry Of Niger Delta Affairs establishment of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Ugbomro, Effurun and the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP). Thanks to Tompolo, he played a pivotal part in all of it. These Institutions are still in place, benefiting peoples of the region equally High Chief (Dr.) Ekpemupolo as a renowned civic nationalist and philanthropist, He formally launched the TOMPOLO FOUNDATION in 2012. to gamer support and serve as rallying points for the less privileged in the society, through providing educational support, socio economic relief and health care to the rural communities of the Niger Delta region.
Regardless of ethnicity, so many people have benefitted from the services of the foundation in the last 13 years. Some of his recent interventions were donations of relief materials to the 2022 flood victims in the South-South. He also provided educational materials, such as modern classroom desks, worth millions of naira and renovated four classrooms with offices at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, at the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) permanent site, Okerenkoko, Delta State. The roles of High Government Ekpemupalo in the establishment and take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, was ephocal Infact, High Chief Ekpemupolo’s multi-billion naira Mieka Diving Institute, in Kurutie Town, provided the initial take off facilities for the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in 2014, when the Federal Government desperately needed it. This gesture amply demonstrated his avowed commitment to the opening up of the Niger Delta to all round development and exposure of the people, accross ethnic cleavages, to the opportunities of having quality tertiary education, provided at their doorstep.
For his various philanthropic deeds, especially in the realm of educational advancement, Chief Ekpemupolo was recognised as the South South Man of Year, 2023 by the Daily Independent Newspaperand in November 25th. 2023. The Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko (NMU), likewise bestowed him with the prestigious Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa). Though Chief Ekpemupolo’s commitment to the struggle to liberate the Niger Delta and a growing business and other endeavours, strained his interest for higher academic pursuits, that development, however, propelled him to encourage his people in the Niger Delta, accross ethnic divides, in acquiring quality education, at his own expense. He has ensured that indigent youths are unfettered by financial limitations in their quest for higher education. His foundation liberally award scholarship to youths at all levels of study.
To further buttress his unpretentious interest in the wellbeing of his people, when there were rumours of plans by the then Minister of Transportation, in the last administration, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Ameachi to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University, without valid reasons, Chief Ekpemupolo again stepped up, pulling strings here and there, until that plan was jettisoned. His Oporoza home has become a Mecca of sort for youths, accross the country, who visit him day and night, without invitation, with one demand or the other. No one sees him without returning with a broad smile. Much of the national politicking is deliberated in his parlour Today, Chief Ekpemupolo has become the fulcrum of unity and centre for resistance against external interest in the Niger Delta.
Chief Ekpemupolo is a successful businessman. As stated earlier, he started business from a humble beginning, but has built a business conglomerate. He is the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigerian Limited, a company reputed to be one of the best in the provision of surveillance and protection for federal government oil assets in the Niger Delta Tantita’s efforts in this line led to increased crude production, leveraging improved revenue for the Federal Government.
This is quite an achievement by Tompolo. Infact, Tantita has continued to cripple the activities of crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta.
Tantita recently arrested vessels and equipment used for illicit oil bunkering. It is on this promise that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, profusely expressed gratitude to Tompolo, on the arrest of MT KALI in Pennington Oil Field of Bayelsa State.
In conveying the presidential message of gratitude, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, asa, when he inspected “We are here on the order MT KALI, said, of the President, who is very impressed and appreciative of the efforts of Tantita Security Services Niguria Limited (TSSNL) and indeed his major promoter, Chief Government Ekpemupolo. alias Tompolo, in curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta. “Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who led 26 of his colleagues serving in seven relevant committees of the House, on inspection of the impounded MT KÄLI and HARBOR SPIRIT, on Friday, February 9th, 2024, showered praises and encomium on Tompolo, saying.
“Tantita is one company that has been doing well for the nation. We have seen how Tantita, under its Chief Executive, High Chief Tompolo, has done very well in contributing to the nation’s increased oil output by safeguarding the national assets in the creeks, thus making our life wire much more secured. “It is in this regard therefore, that the committee will like to say a big thank you to Tantita and Chief Tompolo, on behalf of the people of Nigeria and House of Representatives, in particular. Endless accolades, awards and commendations have been pouring on Tompolo, by relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian project on the modest achievements recorded by Tantita in the war against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta in particular, several Nigerian newspapers such as Daily Telegraph, and The Sun, just to mention a few, have commended the commitment and efficiency of Tantita and bestowed awards on Chief Government Ekpemupolo, for the giant strides recorded in the war against crude oil theft.
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo is also the Managing Director (MD) of Tompolo Nigeria Limited. It is from here the nickname, Tompolo had its origin. The company is into support services to multinational oil companies in Nigeria. He also serves as a technical partner to Global West Vessels Specialize Limited (GWVSL). GWVSL, was into a public/private partnership deal with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) from 2012 to 2015. For High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s service to humanity and Niger Delta in particular, the ljaw nation’s Council of Traditional Rulers conferred the prestigious title of Ibe-Ebidouwel of ljaw Nation, on him. In addition, he has received countless traditional titles from many kingdom.
For High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, there is no retreat and no surrender in the struggle to free the people of the Niger Delta from the shackles of underdevelopment, want, poverty and inhuman marginalisation and denial by the Nigerian state. His commitment to better the lives of the people is unshaken and unshakeable. He sleeps and wakes, thinking and working out further plans to make life worthy of living for his people.
He lives with his people to feel their pulse. Ladies and gentlemen, it would amaze you to hear that High Chief Government Ekpemupolo does not own a Nigerian passport. This means that the probability that he can jet out of the country under any guise, even for a casual holiday to unwind, is out of the permutations. This fact has not been challenged. For High Chief Govemment Ekpemupolo, Nigeria is the only country of his and he would remain perpetually in the creeks of the Niger Delta to join forces with other patriotic Nigerians to restore the nation on the path of sustainable growth and development in all facets.
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, is married to Chief Mrs. Victoria Ekpemupolo and the union is blessed with a daughter Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, an astute and accomplished businessman, strategist and tactician, unequalled philanthropist, a selfless leader of leaders, arrow-head and face of the Niger Delta struggle, the tormentor of the oll thieves, the formentor of the oppressors of the people of the Niger Delta, the liberator of the oppressed and the only Nigerian multi-billionaire businessman, who does not own a Nigerian passport, High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
