By Warefa Pereke.
July 1, 2025.
Warri, Delta, Nigeria – In a development that underscores the fragile peace in the Niger Delta, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the revered spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom, has issued a scathing rebuke to Jude Gbaboyor, a young man hailing from Isaba Kingdom. Gbenekama’s strongly worded statement unequivocally cautions Gbaboyor against what he terms as “fanning the embers of war” between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups.
The crux of Gbenekama’s concern lies in Gbaboyor’s alleged instigation of the Itsekiri people to protest against the Federal Government of Nigeria. The central demand of this proposed protest is the termination of the Tantita contract, a crucial security surveillance agreement awarded to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The Tantita contract, primarily designed to combat rampant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism across the Niger Delta, has been hailed by many as a significant step towards economic recovery and environmental preservation in the region. Since its inception, the contract has demonstrably contributed to an increase in crude oil production, a critical lifeline for Nigeria’s economy.
Chief Gbenekama reaffirms that almost all kingdoms in the Niger Delta have benefited from Tantita’s operational framework. This includes both the Itsekiri and Isaba Kingdoms, with reports indicating that the contract has provided employment opportunities, reduced oil spills, and fostered a cleaner environment in various communities.
Gbenekama’s stern warning to Jude Gbaboyor thus highlights a deeper concern: the potential for historical rivalries and resource disputes to be rekindled over an initiative that, by many accounts, has brought tangible benefits to the region. His call for restraint suggests a desire to prioritize peace and collective progress over actions that could escalate tensions and undermine efforts to secure national assets and improve livelihoods in the Niger Delta.
The Federal Government and stakeholders will undoubtedly uphold the contract, as the stability of the Niger Delta remains paramount to Nigeria’s economic well-being. The good lies in the fact that the benefits of the Tantita’s contracts are equitably distributed to all communities by Tompolo, thereby preventing individuals from exploiting grievances to incite conflict, except the unappreciative ones.
