Ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, yesterday said his refusal to decamp from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressive Congress despite overture made by the latter is responsible for his trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In an open letter to Nigerians on the threat by the EFCC to declare him wanted if he failed to honour its invitation, Tompolo said he is being persecuted for supporting Gov Henry Seriake Dickson’s re-election bid.
He said: “The real reason this All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government is after me is that I bluntly refused to join APC and to support their governorship candidate in Bayelsa State. We cannot all be in APC.
“I know why they are after me. It is not the alleged multi-billion naira property transaction. After all, it went through due process and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). And as such if there are any questions to answer, it is the people at the FEC, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Federal Ministry of Lands and Survey, Federal Ministry of Transport, NIMASA, etc, who approved the transaction that should be answering such questions.
“Our people have always believed in the Nigerian project and have always hoped to join hands with this administration to move this project forward, but the conditions being attached are not acceptable. I insist on believing in the Nigerian project unconditionally! The threat to declare me wanted is an unnecessary attempt to heat up the polity. I will go about my daily business, usual.
“Finally, let me say this: if people can come from Sokoto, Katsina or Lagos to campaign in Bayelsa, why can’t I, a full blooded Ijaw man go to my Bayelsa to campaign? I will only add this: let the will of the people of Bayelsa prevail. Nobody should attempt to force the outcome of the election.”
