By Victor Lewis
A critical assessment of the advertorial placed in the Vanguard Newspaper of Saturday July 5, 2025 by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, throws up so many posers. In fact, with due respect, the advertorial provokes deep sober reflection, on what could be referred to as the attitude of the Urhobo man towards collective solution for collective problems.
it is necessary to state from the onset that oil exploration and exploitation which has become the mainstay of the nation’s economy today, started in the onshore and off-shore areas of Delta State in the early seventies, albeit, in commercial quantity. Which is to say that oil production activities and its negative environmental impact commenced in some parts of Urhobo as well as some parts of the Riverine areas where Tantita has its base today in the seventies.
But while the Ijaws and their vociferous and focus youths have continued to mount pressure and protest against the federal government, seeking for a fair deal over their plight, the Urhobo have remained docile and unconcerned. The Jesse oil pipeline fire disaster of October 17, 1998 where over 1,000 lives was lost didn’t attract any compensation from the Federal government till today. In fact, the bombing of Kokori-Erhoike oil flow station in 1969 at the peak of the Nigerian Civil War where lives were lost and several oil pollution from gas flaring and pipeline explosion, etc, did not provoke the UPU to protest nor agitated for compensation or commensurate federal presence. More than that, in every parts of Urhobo where oil activities have taken place, the people have borne the burnt of environmental pollution, soil degradation and neglect. Yet, no protest from the UPU has been recorded.
Worst still, a handful of Urhobo personalities who have been privileged to interact with those in authority in Abuja and in the echelon of the Oil multinationals, have always negotiated deals for themselves and their families to the neglect of the majority of the Urhobo people. Indeed, that is one of the factors that mark the difference between Tompolo and his Tantita Company and we the Urhobo represented by the UPU in that so-called advertorial.
It is instructive to know that the Ijaws, and particularly their youths, have over the years, mounted pressure on the federal government and the oil multinationals for a fair deal over their suffering from oil activities. Their continuous pressure made the government to grant amnesty, NDDC, 13% derivation and the PIA amongst others. The award of the pipeline security contract to Tantita, if we must know, is undoubtedly, still one of the results of the Ijaws collective pressure on the federal government for a fair deal.
The question is: where was the UPU all these years? Has the UPU queried how the PIA is being implemented in the affected oil-producing areas of Delta Central? It is also on record that part of the Oil pipeline security contract was awarded to some notable Urhobos. Who have they reached out to in terms of spread of the associated jobs? Or is the UPU not still aware of that?
Again, perusing through the advertorial, the first and second paragraphs have exposed the UPU as having no serious reason for the rejection of Tantita open letter, other than just being jealous. As much as the UPU reserves the right to demand similar contract from the Federal government, it is preposterous to make their case based on their rejection of Tantita. Isn’t it a more honourable way to demand from the government a similar contract rather than rejecting Tantita?
It is also pentinent to ask why has the UPU not dared to find out those Urhobo who have been appropriating to themselves and their families the chances that have been allocated to the entire Urhobo in the PIA, Amnesty, NDDC, previous pipelines contracts and other similar contracts?
Tantita Services Nig Ltd, a company owned by High Chief Dr. Government Ekpemupolo, has become a household name, not only due to its superlative performance of its mandate as contained it in the terms of contract agreement with the government, but its benevolent disposition towards his people and even to others who are non-Ijaws which has been commensable. His philanthropic disposition did not start with the Pipelines Security and Surveillance contract. The Gbaramatu Chief has, overtime and at all times, been magnanimous.
As for the UPU open letter of rejection, the Union should go lobby for their contract from the Federal government in their own term without the mention or condemnation of Tantita or any other company or individual who have made their way to the government. Until the, this letter is a mere expression of jealousy, I dare say.
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