By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Spokesman of the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI), Comrade Daniel Ezekiel on Sunday March 4 stated that he spent fifteen months in the detention of the Department for State Security (DSS) because he supported Ex-militant leader, High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo in his travails with the Federal Government.
Ezekiel made the assertion in an exclusive chat with newsmen on Sunday in Warri.
Ezekiel noted that he was not kept in the DSS underground cell but that of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) after he was flown to Abuja.
“In all honesty, I was not kept underground in DSS cell, it was in DIA, Abuja where I was first taken to from Warri that I was kept in underground 18 feet below the earth for two weeks before I was taken to DSS for lack of evidence to link me up with avengers story that ritualist Johnny heaped on me.”
The rights activist described the DSS cell as a “hell on earth” saying,” I would never pray for my enemy to be there.”
Ezekiel also pointed out that about forty nine Niger Delta Youths are still in DSS custody.
Ezekiel expressed disappointment in Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Mr. Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State, the Amayanabo of Brass Kingdom, Bayelsa State, King Diette-Spiff as well as other ijaw leaders for saying and doing nothing about the 49 Niger Delta youths who are languishing in jail.
He said the only person who has taken it upon himself like John the Baptist in the forest with a lone range cry is the President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) WorldWide, Barr. Eric Omare who facilitated and secured his own freedom from detention.
“Due to the pressure from both local and international media, civil society bodies, my father, High Chief Government Ekemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, Barrister Eric Omare led ijaw youth council worldwide, my organization, which I am the Spokesperson, IPDI under the leadership of ever blazing Comrade Austin Ozobo and my family members.
“Director General of DSS set up committee to investigate the veracity of ritualist Michael Johnny information, which after thorough scrutiny, they found out that it was just a fabrication by this evil guy and his gang to kill me for being on the side of truth.”
While pointing out that the freedom of these youths has become the daily devotion of Omare on per second billing, Ezekiel queried, “What stops Governor Dickson from sending for me to know true situation of things and our youths, being that I was there, he did not do it, rather he goes about in his huge frame like that of wrestlers calling himself ” Governor General of Ijaw Nation” , is this how late DSP Alamieseiyegha who was called that name behaved?
“To papa Edwin Clark, would he had become so laid back like this, if his biological son was among those youths? Because when his son was kidnapped in 2016, within 48 hours , it was like the world was coming to an end for him, until Tompolo came to his rescue.
“These old men go to Aso Rock every now and then to discuss. What are they talking? When their children are in chains with no hope of coming out.
“These men are a disgrace to themselves and the region. In the last 3months President Buhari has ordered for the released of Several terrorists boko haram members, yet the so called leaders sees nothing wrong in this.”
Narrating how he was arrested, Ezekiel said Chief Michael Johnny in several “malicious” and “false” petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through an imported writer from Esan Land in Edo State, Comrade Israel Joe lied to Security Agencies that he is the Spokesman of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
Ezekiel alleged that, Chief Johnny alleged that,”Tompolo collected money from Federal Government without doing any thing, I am talking about Maritime University project, Gbaramatu.”
In his words,”Before we could say jack Robinson, Federal Government declared Tompolo wanted over ritualist Johnny and his ghost writer petitions.
“it was at this point that I came out in defence of Tompolo in the media because I know that it is just a witch hunt by Federal Government because he refused to decamp to ruling party.”
Ezekiel said Chief Michael Johnny also threatened to deal with me because he belonged to the APC.
“This made military to kidnap me in Warri on 3/08/2016. That same day, I was flown to Abuja in a plane.”
“My offence is because I stood on the side of truth, justice,equity and fairness. You see no matter how lie goes, one day truth will overcome it.
“The Maritime University project that made Federal Government to descend on ijaws and Tompolo because of unfounded petitions from Michael Johnny and his ghost writer, that he did nothing after collecting money has turned out to be lie.
Ezekiel who expressed joy that the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) has come to stay, said the Federal Government is just persecuting Tompolo for no reason.
“Are you not aware that Federal Government has approved the take off of operation of the school? With programs starting with 3faculties, as you are reading,employment and admission are going. In fact, I learnt that Vice President could not believed what he saw with his eyes in terms of gigantic structures in Kurutie temporary site when he visited.”
