Akeredolu Blasts FG Over Pipeline Contract Awarded To Tompolo

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has faulted the Federal Government’s over the recent pipeline protection contract awarded to private organisations linked to former MEND leader, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo.

The governor, who stated this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Olabode Olatunde on Wednesday, lamented that the FG has neglected states in terms of the security of lives and property of the people but rather empowering some private security outfits in the country.

He stressed that the government have indirectly empowered non-state actors to purchase weapons, which they may later use to terrorise the peace of the country.

He noted that efforts to make FG retrace its steps have yielded negative results.

READ ALSO: BBNAIJA: Reactions Trail Daniella, Dotun’s Erotic Video

According to him, “The news concerning the purported award of pipeline contracts to some individuals and private organisations by the Federal Government has been unsettling. More disquieting is the barely disguised hostility displayed against either the idea or the actual establishment of security outfits by some State Governments to fill the widening gaps in the scope of security coverage noticeable nationally.

“The award of contract to private organisations to protect vandalisation of pipelines raise fundamental questions on the sincerity of the advisers of the Government on security issues. The open and seeming enthusiastic embrace of this oddity, despite the constant and consistent avowal of the readiness by the Security Agencies in particular the Navy to contain the pervasive and deepening crises of breaches and threats to lives and property, attracts the charge of insincerity bordering, deplorably, on dubiety.

“If the State Governments, which are keenly desirous of protecting their citizens, establish ancillary security outfits and there has been pronounced reluctance, if not outright refusal, to consider permitting them to bear arms for the sole purpose of defence, granting private individuals and or Organisations unfettered access to assault weapons suggests, curiously, deep-seated suspicion and distrust between the Federal Government and the presumed federating units.

“The Federal Government cannot be seen to be playing the Ostrich in this regard.”