Egbesu leader lauds ex-agitators for withdrawing fake allegations against NNPC

An Ijaw religious leader, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, has applauded ex-Niger Delta agitators for withdrawing fake allegations against the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

A statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Amadi Obiageli, quoted Kemepadei, the Chief Superintending Officer, Supreme Egbesu Order (SEO), for intervening in the matter that was tearing the ex-agitators apart.

Obiageli said that following the intervention of Kemepadei in the crisis rocking the ex-agitators under the auspices of Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM), the factional group had withdrawn all petitions, apologised and harmonised into the parent body led by Oyinemi Bodmas.

The group had earlier issued a series of fictitious petitions, false claims against NNPC Group Executive Director (Upstream), Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, over alleged breach of public trust.

The allegation against the GED has been dismissed as misinformation and falsehood.

The CPS said that the Ijaw leader, Apostle Kemepadei, after he was approached to resolve the issue, convened a meeting with other Niger Delta stakeholders, interfaced with the warring leaders and asked them to withdraw their fake petitions and issue a publication to that regard.

Obiageli noted that the contending issues that led to the charade had been resolved internally, thanks to Kemepadei's timely intervention.

Shedding light on the development, Apostle Kemepadei maintained that Adokiye's contribution to the maintenance of peace in the region should not be undermined, urging the people of the region to support him to succeed in the wonderful work he had been doing for the region.

He noted that the blackmails and propaganda against Niger Delta leaders in prominent positions was a recipe for underdevelopment in the region.

Kemepadei also commended Adokiye for not resorting to arrest and prosecution of the youths who called him unprintable names but for utilising the occasion to caution them against blackmails, threats and issuing uninformed statements capable of tarnishing someone's image and reputation.

He said the GED had warned that such actions by the youths amounted to defamation and capable of imprisonment if the matter had been escalated.

The SEO leader also applauded the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, for sustaining the exsisting peace in the Niger Delta and for supporting stakeholders to build a united Nigeria.

Apostle Kemepadei further appealed to prominent Niger Delta leaders to embrace and open their doors to people of the region for interaction on issues that promote peaceful coexistence in the region.

End.