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Tag: Tompolo

  • Tompolo tells Fed Govt to produce his dad’s killers

    Tompolo tells Fed Govt to produce his dad’s killers

    Niger Delta activist and founder of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) Chief Government Ekpemupolo has urged the Federal Government to fish out and prosecute the soldiers who killed his father, Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo, last year.

    Speaking on the first anniversary of his father’s death, Tompolo said descendants of the late patriarch would not rest until the masterminds of his death are found and held accountable.

     Tompolo, who is on the run for alleged N13 billion fraud, said they would use all legitimate means to seek the killers.

     He said: “As we mourn and remember our late patriarch, we will seek justice to apprehend and hold accountable the soldiers responsible for his murder so that he can finally rest in peace and we his descendants fulfilled.

     “I will also not be deterred by persecution, and the state act of terror against my person and communities in Ijaw land in the quest for emancipation of our land and people,” he vowed.

    The father of the former militant leader died from his injuries when soldiers invaded Gbaramatu in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State in September, 2016.

    The octogenarian, who was allegedly brutalised by rampaging soldiers, died in a private hospital at Warri, after his limbs were amputated in a desperate bid to save his life.

     Tompolo, who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly looting NIMASA fund, lamented his ‘persecution’.

     He said: “I have been marked as state enemy No. 1, by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration because of my natural and open association with my kinsman and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

    Ekpemupolo also traced his ordeal to his support for Governor Seriake Dickson in the 2016 Bayelsa State governorship election.

     He denied involvement in the operation of Niger Delta Avengers, stressing: “In an orchestrated plot, the Army was unleashed on Gbaramatu in search of me, and the rampaging soldiers stormed my father’s home in Kurutie, brutalised him to the point of death.

     “He sustained injuries in one of his legs and due to lack of medical facilities in the area he could not be treated and could also not be timely evacuated because of the siege and blockade by the Army.’’

     Tompolo also accused the Navy of looting his waterfront property, jetties and other valuable, stressing that items worth over N10 billion were looted by the armed forces.

    “In the last taken inventory of my facility, there was over N10 billon worth of building and other materials in the jetty, but information reaching me has it that the jetty has been stripped bare by service personnel of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    “Some of the materials presumably have been taken to the North. How could this happen under your watch? As rightly observed by other well-meaning Nigerians, let me echo their thoughts by asking, ‘where is the much-touted anti-corruption crusade?

     “The problem of environmental despoliation and degradation as well as political, economic and social injustice arising out of oil and gas explorations aided by policies of the Federal Government looms larger by the day. Intimidation and threat are employed to cow Niger Deltans in the place of engagement and positive tangibles,” he alleged.

     

  • Tompolo speaks from hiding, says: ‘JTF will pay for my father’s death’

    Tompolo speaks from hiding, says: ‘JTF will pay for my father’s death’

    Niger Delta activist and founder of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has vowed to make soldiers pay for the death of his father, Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo one year ago.

    Speaking on the first year anniversary of the death of the late Thomas, Tompolo said descendants of the late patriarch would not rest until the masterminds of his death are found and held accountable.

    Tompolo, who is on the run over alleged N13billion fraud, though said that the search for justice would be prosecuted through legal means.

    He said, “As we mourn and remember our late patriarch, we will seek justice to apprehend and hold accountable the very soldiers responsible for his murder so that he can finally rest in peace and we his descendants can be fulfilled.

    “I will also not be deterred by persecution and state act of terror against my person and communities in Ijaw land in the quest for the emancipation of our land and people,” he vowed.

    It would be recalled that father of the former militant leader died from injuries he sustained when soldiers invaded Gbaramatu clan in Warri Southwest local government area of Delta State in September 2016.

    The octogenarian, who was allegedly brutalised by rampaging soldiers, later died in a private hospital in Warri, after his limbs were amputated in a desperate bid to save his life.

    While using the incident as reference, Tompolo who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged looting of NIMASA fund, lamented his ‘persecution’.

    He said “I have been marked as state enemy number one by the President Muhammadu Buhari regime because of my natural and open association with my kinsman and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

    Ekpemupolo also traced his ordeal to his support for Governor Seriake Dickson in the 2016 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial election presumed as against the anointed APC candidate of the Federal Government, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    He denied involvement in destructive operation by the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, stressing,“In an orchestrated plot the Nigerian Army was unleashed on Gbaramatu Kingdom in search of me, and the rampaging soldiers stormed my father’s home in Kurutie Town, physically brutalised him to the point of death.

    “He sustained injuries in one of his legs and due to lack of medical facilities in the area he could not be treated and could also not be timely evacuated because of the siege and blockade by the Nigerian Army.’

    Besides, Tompolo accused the Nigerian Navy of looting his waterfront properties, jetties and other valuable, stressing that items worth over N10bn were looted by men of the Nigerian armed forces.

    “In the last taken inventory of my facility, there was over 10 billon naira worth of building and other materials in the Jetty, but information reaching me now has it that the Jetty has been stripped bare by service personnel of the Joint Task Force [JTF].

    “Some of the materials presumably have been taken to Northern Nigeria. How could this happen under your watch? As rightly observed by other well-meaning Nigerians, let me echo their thoughts by asking ‘where is the much touted anti-corruption crusade?

    “The problem of environmental despoliation and degradation and issues of political, economic and social injustice and inequalities arising out of the oil and gas explorations aided by the policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria still looms larger by the day. Intimidation and threat is now employed to cow Niger Deltans in the place of engagement and positive tangibles,” he alleged.

  • For Tompolo, judgment day beckons!

    SIR: Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 40-count charge against 46-years old ex-militant, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) and nine others before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos. But due to his absence since the arraignment of his fellow accused, Justice Buba had issued a bench warrant for his arrest and production in court.

    Further, relying on Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the court ordered forfeiture of properties belonging to Tompolo pending when he appears in court. Some of the properties affected by the forfeiture order include a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15, the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard”, the property known as “Tompolo Yard” in Warri, the Diving School at Kurutie at Escravos River, the property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, amongst others.

    Subsequently, Tompolo approached the court for an order restraining the prosecuting agencies from further proceeding with the charges against him contending that Sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which prohibits him from seeking a stay of proceedings in his criminal trial infringed on his constitutional right to fair hearing.

    Tompolo had chosen to exercise his constitutional right by applying to court in the suit before Justice Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos who had adjourned to July 14, for delivery of ruling on his application. In the aforesaid fundamental rights suit filed by Tompolo, who had been declared wanted since Feb. 12, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he seeks the court’s protection against prosecution over an alleged N45.9 billion fraud. Joined as respondents in the suit are: Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, EFCC, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff.

    It is left to be seen how the recent ground breaking decision of the apex court upholding the provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Section 40 of the EFCC Act prohibiting Nigerian courts from granting stay of proceedings in criminal trials will influence the application filed by Tompolo. The position of the Supreme Court was taken by distinguishing the case of Bukola Saraki V. FRN (2016) 3 NWLR (PT. 1500) SC 531 on the basis that the Code of Conduct Tribunal wherein same emanated is not a superior court of record, but only a court of quasi-criminal jurisdiction, while dismissing an appeal on an application for stay of proceedings filed by the former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh.

    In the lead ruling delivered by Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, the apex court resolved that it is simply logical to interpret the spirit of the provision of Section 36(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to translate that where the grant of an application for stay will unnecessarily delay and prolong the criminal proceedings, same should not be granted.

    But from all indications, whatever the outcome of the July 14, ruling is, Tompolo will rather remain in his hideout for much longer for fear of sharing a similar fate as Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who is still in detention despite court’s pronouncement for his release. For how long?

     

    • Michael O. Ogunjobi Esq.

    Lagos.

  • Court to rule on Tompolo’s rights suit on July 14

    Court to rule on Tompolo’s rights suit on July 14

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned till July 14, to deliver judgment in a fundamental rights suit filed by Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo.

    Tompolo, who had been declared wanted since February 12, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is seeking court’s protection against prosecution over an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.

    Joined as respondents are the Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, EFCC, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff.

    The case earlier slated for judgment yesterday was re-slated for July 14, following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who is said to be attending a workshop.

    At the last sitting, counsel representing the applicant and respondents had adopted their processes before the court.

  • Lagos court fixes June 19 for judgment in Tompolo’s suit against IGP, EFCC

    Lagos court fixes June 19 for judgment in Tompolo’s suit against IGP, EFCC

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday fixed June 19 to deliver judgment in a suit filed by Chief Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo, seeking the enforcement of his rights.

    Tompolo, who had been declared wanted since Feb. 12, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is seeking court’s protection against prosecution over an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.
    Joined as respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the EFCC, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff.
    On Thursday, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun reserved judgment in the suit after hearing arguments from counsel.
    Adopting his originating processes, counsel to the first and second respondents, Mr T.A Mofolu, argued that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, provides for speedy criminal trials.
    According to him,  the law provides that an accused has a right of appeal where he is not at par with the decision of a court.

    He said in this case the respondent was aware of an appeal filed by the applicant.
    He also objected to the attachment of a newspaper publication in the applicant’s further affidavit dated June 16, 2016 on the grounds that such piece of evidence was secondary and ought to be certified at the National library.

    Mofolu, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application for lack of merit.

    But counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, submitted that the applicant in question was a “fugitive” in law and should not be allowed to seek redress from the court until he submitted himself for trial.

    He argued that given the materials placed before the court, it was clear that the applicant was s in clear contempt of the order of Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had earlier compelled his attendance in court to answer charges preferred against him.

    Oyedepo described the application as an abuse of court process, saying “it is trite that a party who is in contempt of court cannot seek redress” and urged  the court to throw out the application for lack of merit.

    He said in his originating processes, the applicant had “ridiculously and in contradiction of his claims” annexed a copy of his notice of appeal signed personally by him.
    “If the applicant feigns ignorance of the charge, how then was he able to brief his counsel on the charge for an appeal to be filed.

    “The issue leading to the preferring of a criminal charge against the applicant borders on fraud in which billions of naira was lost by the Federal government.”
    He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application and award “heavy” costs against the applicant for abusing the court’s process.

    In response to the arguments of respondent’s counsels, Tompolo’s lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, brought his application pursuant to the provisions of the African Charter of Human rights, the 1999 constitution, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    He argued that in criminal law service of a charge was personal and could not be presumed, adding that there is no evidence before the court showing that exhibit A (charge) was served on the applicant.

    On the issue of contempt, Adegboruwa submitted that the applicant could not be cited for contempt, adding that since the beginning of the proceedings, the applicant cannot be said to have breached any court order.

    He insisted that it was the constitutional right of the applicant to apply to court for the enforcement of his rights and urged the court to uphold it.

    After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Olatoregun fixed June 19 for judgment.

    The EFCC had filed a 40-count charge against Tompolo and nine others before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the same court.

    Following the absence of  Tompolo in court since his arraignment, Justice Buba had  issued a bench warrant for his arrest and production in court.

    The court had also on Feb. 19, 2014, ordered a forfeiture of property belonging to Tompolo after an application was moved to that effect by the EFCC.

    Justice Buba had held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 empowers the court to seize properties of an accused who refused to face trial.

    The court recalled that though Tompolo refused to appear in court, he briefed his lawyers and through them sought to vacate the order of his arrest.

    Consequently, he ordered forfeiture of properties belonging to Tompolo pending when appears in court.

    Property affected by the forfeiture order included a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15, the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard”, and the property known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri.
    Others are the Diving School at Kurutie at Escravos River, the property known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, and any other property discovered by the EFCC moveable and immovable.
    Meanwhile, Tompolo is seeking an order restraining the respondents from further proceeding with the charges slammed on him.

    Tompolo contends that Sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which prohibit him from seeking a stay of proceedings in his trial infringed on his constitutional rights to fair hearing.

    Tompolo also wants the court not to only nullify Sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA but to also restrain the respondents from invoking  the sections of the law against him.

    He insists that Sections 221 and 306 were in conflict with Section 36 of the Constitution which guarantees his right to fair hearing.

  • EFCC to court: Tompolo is a fugitive in law

    EFCC to court: Tompolo is a fugitive in law

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a rights enforcement suit filed against it and others by a wanted former Niger Delta militant, Chief Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo.

    Tompolo, who was declared wanted last February 12, is praying the court to protect him from prosecution for an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.

    He sued the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the EFCC, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, said Tompolo “is a fugitive in law”, and so, should not be allowed to seek redress in court until he submits himself for trial.

    He argued that given the materials placed before the court, it was clear that Tompolo was in contempt of the order of Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had earlier compelled his attendance in court to answer to charges preferred against him.

    Oyedepo described the application as an abuse of court process, since it was trite that a party who is in contempt of court cannot seek redress.

    He urged the court to throw out the application for lacking in merit.

    Oyedepo argued that in his originating processes, the applicant had in contradiction of his claims, annexed a copy of his notice of appeal which he signed personally.

    He argued that if Tompolo was ignorant of the charge, he would not have hired a lawyer to file an appeal.

    Oyedepo said the charge against the applicant bordered on fraud, in which billions of naira were lost by the Federal government.

    He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application and award “heavy” cost against the applicant for abusing the court’s process.

    Tompolo’s lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, argued that in criminal law, service of a charge was personal and cannot be presumed, adding that there is no evidence before the court showing that the charge was served on the applicant.

    Adegboruwa said his client could not be cited for contempt, adding that since the beginning of the proceedings, the applicant could not be said to have breached any court’s order.

    He argued that it is a constitutional right of the applicant to apply to court to enforce his right, adding that it cannot be waived.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun fixed June 19 for judgment.

     

     

  • Police confirm death of suspected armed bandit in Delta

    The Delta police command on Monday said its operatives had killed a notorious suspected armed robber simply known as “Tompolo”.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the death of the suspected robber, however, added that three of his accomplices escaped with bullet wounds.

    Aniamaka said police detectives from Enerhen division in Uvwie local government area near Warri, foiled a robbery attack following a distress call and in the ensueing gun duel, killed Tompolo, on April 9.

    He said, “I got a distress call that one suspect has been gunned down by men of the Enerhen police division, with the assistance of the local vigilantes, after a gun duel.

    “Item recovered from the suspect included a cut to size locally made pistol and some rounds of ammunition,” he said.

    He noted that the incident happened after the deceased alongside others had successfully robbed a female victim of a huge sum of money at about 5:00 am around Dugbo Estate.

    “Tompolo and his boys robbed a woman of her handbag containing huge sums of money she was going to the market with.

    “Tompolo and his gang members had been terrorizing neighborhoods around here for so long,” he said.

     

  • Suspected robber ‘Tompolo’ shot dead in Warri

    A notorious armed robber, simply identified as Tompolo, has been shot dead by security agents in the Enerhen area of Uvwie local government area of Delta State.

    The Nation gathered that the hoodlum, who was actually shot dead on April 9 by a combined team of policemen from the Enerhen Divisional Police Station and members of Sedco Community Vigilante, had reportedly dispossessed a female victim of a huge amount of money on that day.

    According to sources, Tompolo at about 5:00 a.m., robbed an unidentified woman at gunpoint around Dugbo Estate.

    He had earned a terror identity for himself around the Enerhen/Udu Road axis of the Warri metropolis.

    The deceased, it was gathered, was in company of three other accomplices who escaped with gunshot wounds.

    One of the sources said, “Tompolo and his boys had robbed a woman who was going to the market of her handbag containing a huge sum of money. The hoodlum and his gang members had been terrorising neighbourhoods around here for a long period.”

    The Divisional Police Officer of the Enerhen police station, Hassan Galadima, a Chief Superintendent of Police, confirmed the development, saying three other suspects escaped with gunshot wounds.

     

     

  • Violent clash disrupts Tompolo’s 46th birthday

    Violent clash disrupts Tompolo’s 46th birthday

    The 46th birthday lecture of fugitive ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, ended on a violent note on Wednesday when factional groups of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), engaged each other a gun fight.

     

    Various Ijaw interest groups and some of Tompolo’s associates had put the lecture together to celebrate the life of the former militant leader who went into hiding since 2015 and invited eminent personalities, including renowned professor of English Literature, Professor Godini Darah, to discuss peace in the Niger Delta.

     

    The atmosphere became charged when two leaders of the two factions of the IYC; the Eric Omare camp and the recently inaugurated Peretubo Oweilami camp met at the event. Omare, who arrived at the event, had been seated with some of the executive council members of his camp before the leaders of the other faction arrived.

     

    The atmosphere turned violent when members of the Omare faction, who identified Oweilami and his entourage, tried to prevent him from entering the hall of the in Okuemi Hotels, Warri. The clash escalated into a scuffle and later the use of all manners of weapons, including guns, axes and broken bottles.

     

    The order inside the hall was disrupted when some of the men involved in the fracas gained access and started charging at each other. The riotous atmosphere, which had already scared several guests, was later quelled after about 40 minutes by the law enforcement agents on guard duty.

     

    Although there were no casualties as at the time of filing this report, many of the escaping guests, including journalists and other participants, reported loss of their personal effects like mobile phones.

     

    Reacting to the sad development, factional president of the IYC, Eric Omare, who said he was not sure the disturbance was occasioned by members of the Ijaw youth body, said he would inquire to know what really happened.

     

    “I don’t have details of what transpired minutes ago, but if they (the invaders) happened to be IYC members, I apologise for that, but I need to confirm if indeed they were IYC members.

     

    “If factional IYC members tried coming in to disrupt an event to honour Tompolo, it is condemnable because they ought to know that Tompolo represents peace and they ought to conduct themselves in orderly manner,” he said.

     

    However while  delivering his lecture titled “Niger Delta Struggle and The Question of Ethnic Identity”, prior to the disturbance, Professor Darah noted that Tompolo would go down in the history of the Niger Delta struggle as a leading emancipator, who did all he could to get what belongs to his people for them from oppressive powers.

     

    “The Niger Delta is strategic to the development and survival of the world because it hosts very unique features and resources. It’s time for us to embrace and work together as one people. Niger Delta will be like Dubai if the people agreed to work together as one. After nearly 60 years of petitions, conflicts and warfare, there appears to be some channels of opportunities for a peaceful and just resolution of the Niger Delta conflict.

     

    “The emergence of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in August, 2016, provided this channel of opportunity. This is the first time in many decades that different organizations and activists from different ethnic groups in the Niger Delta ever came together in a joint platform to prosecute in the cause of the region”, he said.

     

    Also delivering a second lecture, Prof. Harriman, an ardent supporter of Tompolo said, “The fifth columnist is the greatest challenge against the struggle. If you are among those trying to accentuate the oppression of the Niger Delta people by those who steal their wealth, desist from it. Tompolo is not a militant. He does not need amnesty anymore. The people accusing him are the militant against Nigeria’s wheel of progress.”

  • Osinbajo visits Tompolo’s home base, pleads for stakeholders support

    As part of federal government’s efforts to peacefully sort out resurgent militancy in the Niger Delta region, Vice President Yemi Osibajo on Monday  visited Oporoza community, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta state, on a fact-finding visit.

    Gbaramatu is the home-base of fugitive ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

    Professor Osibajo, who was accompanied by the Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said the issue of development of the Niger Delta region was not a responsibility that only the federal government could tackle, noting that other stakeholders must join hands with government to solve the region’s question.

    The Vice President who visited the temporary site of proposed Nigerian Maritime University in Kurutie after addressing the huge crowd that came receive him, later left Gbaramatu Kingdom for Warri, where he paid a courtesy call on the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli. He went on from there to address a meeting help at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun.

    Addressing the need for the development of the Niger Delta region, which he agreed had a genuine need to be treated as a special development zone, Osibajo said “number one, we must recognise the environmental and terrain challenges of the Niger Delta, we must also recognise that the Niger Delta is a special economic zone for this nation and so we must treat it as a special development zone.

    “I agree that it must be treated as a special development zone. But what does it mean in practical terms? It means that the federal government, the state governments, the National  Assembly representatives, alongside the NDDC and the civil society representatives of the Niger Delta people must sit together and develop a plan and funding arrangement for rapid development.

    “There is no excuse for not planning together, the federal government alone cannot solve the problems of the Niger Delta, it is impossible for the federal government alone, but we can, sitting with the state governors from this region, National Assembly members and civil society organisations, plan for this special development zone and make sure that we carry it out and deliver on the promises that we have made to the people.

    “The states must also be prepared to devote substantial budget to this special project. The PANDEF has submitted a concise list of 16 dialogue issues that will be extremely helpful in ascertaining the key development priorities. That PANDEF document is an important working document, it’s a document around which we can plan”, he said.

    In his speech, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, harped on the need for the people of the region to look into the tourism potentials of the region and start tapping it for the development of the area.

    The state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who described the visit of the Vice President as both a game changer and confidence builder in the relationship between people of the region and the federal government, however noted that the people must allow the enabling environment for development to come.

    He expressed the confidence that the visit would yield a lot of positive fruits and development in the future, emphasizing the need for the people to give peace a chance for the region to move on.

    Also speaking, National President of the Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, said the people of the region were willing to work with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, but plead that the federal government cease the persecution of Ijaw leaders and release all those already arrested.