The political romance between Niger Delta ex-warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, aka (Tompolo) and Delta state, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has gone soured, HardReporters has learnt.
It would be recalled that, Tompolo, who has been out of public domain was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over series of allegation of corruption bothering on award of contracts by NIMASA during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The relationship between the ex-war lord and the governor, HardReporters authoritatively learnt became severed last month following abandonment been faced by Tompolo from governor Okowa, who has left him to face his travail despite all his financial and moral efforts that brought Okowa into government house as governor in 2015.
Before now it was alleged that Governor Okowa had been ‘shielding’ and ‘protected’ Tompolo from arrest and prosecution, but a source closed to Tompolo has confided in HardReporters that the leader of the defunct MEND is regretting putting up his life for Okowa who is in turn paying him in bad coins and betrayal.
“Tompolo is very angry with Okowa for abandoning him to face the music of the anti-graft agency, despite helping him to power. Governor Okowa has been too nonchalant about this serious matter concerning Tompolo, who was the main architect of his (Okowa), winning the 2015 election and had even snubbed the former warlord many times when he tried to reach him on phone.
“It was Tompolo that used his closeness with former President Goodluck Jonathan to influenced PDP delegates to give a clean win to Okowa at the primary with huge sum of foreign currencies, especially in dollars and the subsequent governorship election which Tompolo used all his available arsenals.
“Things started to fall apart when Governor Okowa began to feel that Tompolo was becoming too over demanding financially and in contracts wise and can no longer bear it. At a time Okowa was no longer communicating with him as far as not picking his calls.” an impeccable ally of Tompolo said.
Also confiding in HardReporters, a government official disclosed that “There has been some secret misunderstanding between the governor and Tompolo for some time now. Tompolo is accusing the governor of abandoning him while the governor is on the other hand accusing and avoiding Tompolo over his over bearing financial demands. The Governor has been releasing N50 million each on monthly basis to Tompolo and Michael Diden aka Ejele, under the guise of Delta Waterways Security Committee and this money is paid through DESOPADEC.” our source hinted.
A dependable source close to the king of Gbaramatu kingdom, told this medium that the relationship between “Tompolo and Okowa has gone bad for some time now. Tompolo narrated the genesis of the misunderstanding to His Majesty. Even in a recent phone conversation, Tompolo shouted on the governor and warned him not to call his line again. Okowa has even appealed to His Majesty to intervene. You know elections are near again hence Okowa is using all means to settle with Tompolo. Tompolo is also not happy with the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro too over his betrayal posture to Tompolo. Many things have gone wrong.”
As at the time of filing in this report, all efforts to speak with Tompolo’s media assistant, Mr. Paul Bebeminibo and the state commissioner for information, Mr. Patrick Ukah were not successful.
