Udengs Eradiri, former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State, has defended the oil and gas pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services (TSS).
This is coming on the heels of agitation by some interest groups for the cancellation or shredding of the contract to include players from other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region.
But Eradiri, who has since joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement, described those behind the calls as enemies of Nigeria.
A former President and Secretary of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide also said unprogressive elements, enemies of Nigeria and conflict merchants are behind the calls.
He insisted that such individuals were only interested in returning the Niger Delta to the dark era of unchecked illegal oil bunkering, violence and bloodshed.
The former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment said it is shocking that some people can, out of jealousy and hatred for Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, the founder of TSS, be against the firm that has done a lot to stabilise the security and peace in the region.
He described the Tantita surveillance contract as one of the positive things inherited and sustained by the Tinubu administration pointing out that it has stopped the conflicts that led to decline in oil production in the region.
Eradiri, who is also a former Commissioner for Youths in Bayelsa State, said such persons are not happy that the activities of Tompolo and Tantita have stabilised the region making it one of the most peaceful zones in the country.
He recalled that prior to the contract, the IYC, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and other agitators had clamored for local participation in the protection of oil and gas facilities in their domains.
According to him, Government listened to the agitations and engaged Tompolo and his company because of his high level of community engagements, organisation, discipline and self-sacrifice.
Eradiri noted that since Tompolo and his partners including Mathew Tonlagha of Malon Engineering took over the contract, they have ensured that its benefits trickle down to the least stakeholders in the Niger Delta to give everyone a sense of belonging.
He said such individuals were also belly-aching that the Managing Director of Tantita, Keston Pondei, and Mathew Tonlagha have displayed enviable generosity in reaching out to the less privileged and committing resources to solve their problems in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
Eradiri, a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineering (NSE) said Tantita has provided jobs for thousands of stakeholders, mainly youths across all the nine states of the Niger Delta adding that the company has empowered many people with decent lifestyles.
