Yoruba Group supports Ekpemupolo On Navy Complicity In Crude Oil Theft
**Asks Tinubu To Sack Chief Of Naval Staff, Ogalla
The last about alleged involvement of the Nigerian Navy in the stealing of the nation’s oil and several calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fire the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, may not have been heard as the O’odua Stakeholders Council (OSC), weekend wrote an open letter to the President, imploring him to address the Nigerian Navy’s alleged connection in crude oil theft and do the needful immediately in the interest of the nation and the people.
The OSC claimed that under Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s leadership, the Navy has failed to protect the nation’s maritime environment and instead succeeded in engaging in illegal activities.
The group therefore supported Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), who has publicly accused the Navy of complicity in oil theft.
The OSC in the open letter to the President and signed by Alhaji Basiru Olaosebikan (President) and Kikelomo Ijaodola (Director of Administrator) requested the President to remove Admiral Ogalla, investigate the allegations, and take decisive action to curb oil theft in the oil rich Niger Delta Region.
While describing the Nigerian Navy as nation’s economic albatross in the war against crude oil theft, they emphasized the need for accountability and reforms within the Navy to restore its integrity.
The Group said that the Nigerian Navy’s involvement in crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region has reached a climax and now of alarming proportions and urged the President to intervene immediately in the criminal act.
They pointed out that the Nigerian Navy’s constitutional responsibility is to protect the nation’s maritime environment, but lamented that under the leadership of Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Navy has not manned up to deliver on the said mandate.
They alleged that instead, the Nigerian Navy has become the enfant terrible to national interest, as the service is neck-deep in illegal siphoning of crude for export, and consistently frustrating the war against oil theft, adding that; “The implications of the Navy’s involvement in illegal bunkering have far-reaching consequences for the economic and political survival of the nation”.
According to the group, crude oil export accounts for more than 95 percent of the foreign earnings of the country and said that
any agency of the Federal Government that trifles with the nation’s economic base must be under the supervision of traitors and saboteurs, declaring that such an agency deserved nothing less than a strong reprimand and the wielding of the big stick of the President.
They said that the President must not tolerate the current shenanigans of the Navy, adding that the activities of the service stand opposed to realizing the targeted optimal production of over 2.0 million barrels per day and that a quick surgical procedure must be done to remove the malignancy, saying that;”In this vein, we urge you to take immediate action to address the anomaly”.
They held out that nothing, but the removal of Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, as Chief of Naval Staff, was the ultimate solution, noting that he is just not up to it, that his leadership outrightly failed to inspire confidence.
The group made it clear that his removal has therefore become necessary, saying that no oracle is needed to determine whether he is still suitable for the top job.
The departure of Admiral Ogalla, they said would open a path for a disciplined and patriotic officer to take over, saying that he cannot say he is unaware of the activities of his officers and men on duty in the nation’s territorial waters and; “Hence, we are sure he is compromised and deeply involved in the clandestine bunkering”.
They requested the President to set-up a high powered investigative panel to X-ray and determine the accusations being levelled against the Navy and the position of Admiral Ogalla in all of it.
They described the alleged Navy’s involvement in oil theft as a slap to the face of Nigeria and the President, who trusts Admiral Ogalla and that the rot in the Navy must not be allowed to subsist, saying; “The nation cannot afford to wait any longer. We push that you prioritize immediate reforms to enhance accountability, be not perturbed by sentiments that may lead to harbouring criminals whose missions are at variance with the national interest”.
Here Is The Full Open Letter By O’odua Stakeholders Council (OSC) To President Tinubu:
*CRUDE OIL THEFT: THE NIGERIAN NAVY AS NATION’S ECONOMIC ALBATROSS*
We, the O’Odua Stakeholders Council, South-West Nigeria, are writing to bring to your attention a pressing national issue of extreme concern that requires your immediate intervention. It is the Nigerian Navy’s involvement in crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.
The criminal act has reached a climax, and now of alarming proportions.
You know quite well that the Nigerian Navy’s constitutional responsibility is to protect the nation’s maritime environment.
However, it is unfortunate that under the leadership of Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Navy has not manned up to deliver on the said mandate.
Instead, it has become the enfant terrible to our national interest, as the service is neck-deep in illegal siphoning of crude for export, and consistently frustrates the war against oil theft.
The implications of the Navy’s involvement in illegal bunkering have far-reaching consequences for the economic and political survival of the nation.
Crude oil export accounts for more than 95 percent of the foreign earnings of this country.
Therefore, any agency of the Federal Government that trifles with the nation’s economic base must be under the supervision of traitors and saboteurs.
Such an agency deserves nothing less than a strong reprimand and the wielding of the big stick of Mr. President.
The President must not tolerate the current shenanigans of the Navy. The activities of the service stand opposed to realizing the targeted optimal production of over 2.0 million barrels per day.
Therefore, a quick surgical procedure must be done to remove the malignancy.
In this vein, we urge you to take immediate action to address the anomaly.
Nothing, but the removal of Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, as Chief of Naval Staff, is the ultimate solution. He is just not up to it. His leadership outrightly failed to inspire confidence.
His removal has therefore become necessary, no oracle is needed to determine whether he is still suitable for the top job.
Admiral Ogalla’s departure would open a path for a disciplined and patriotic officer to take over. He cannot say he is unaware of the activities of his officers and men on duty in the nation’s territorial waters. Hence, we are sure he is compromised and deeply involved in the clandestine bunkering.
Consequences on the foregoing, we request that Mr. President set-up a high powered investigative panel to X-ray and determine the accusations being levelled against the Navy and the position of Admiral Ogalla in all of it.
There is no smoke without fire – all that is required to ascertain whether there is one, is a brisk walk up to the source, and look around for who caused it. If Ogalla and his men are found culpable – then they must bear the full weight of the law.
Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, the chief executive of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, has been bellowing at the top of his voice on the Nigerian Navy’s involvement in crude oil theft. He made bold to unveil the unpatriotic activities of the Navy recently while receiving the national leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) at his Oporoza, Delta State, country-home.
We in this Yoruba group believed him and we are giving him our backing in the crusade to get the Navy accountable.
That the Navy uses unregistered foreign vessels in the operations, which the service personnel escort under armed guard out into the deep sea for shipping abroad is a notorious fact. This is against the national interest – clear a case of economic sabotage.
The accusations are too weighty to be swept under the carpet.
Tompolo has not held back, he openly gave instances where Naval personnel on duty in the high seas had intervened to stop the arrest of oil thieves, and provided protection for oil thieves in the Niger Delta. It is a clear betrayal of the trust vested on the Nigerian Navy.
We believe that Tompolo’s allegations are credible, given his experience and expertise in the field of oil pipelines surveillance and protection in the region.
Aside patriotism, Tompolo has no benefit calling out the navy. We see his actions as those of a true patriot, a man with the nation’s interest at heart.
The Navy’s involvement in oil theft is a slap to the face of Nigeria and Mr. President, who trusts Admiral Ogalla.
The illegal activities of his seafarers are clear signals that some individuals in position of authority and responsibility are more interested in lining their pockets with treasures left in their care, than serve the nation with dedication.
We are further inclined to believe Tompolo through his comments, which were openly made.
Indeed, through Chief Ekpemupolo, we follow up on the nefarious activities of the Nigerian Navy.
The private security firm operated by him, has made available a well dispersed, capable workforce of knowledgeable and skilled operatives, who deploy digital technologies to provide information.
Through the foregoing, it has become quite easy to access and evaluate the accusations of sabotage being levelled against the Navy.
Consequently, we request that Mr. President takes the following actions:
(1) Prompt removal of Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, as Chief of Naval Staff.
(2) Investigate all allegations of oil theft and economic sabotage made against the Navy.
(3) Lastly, take quick decisive actions to curb the menace of oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Mr. President sir, the time to act is now.
The nation cannot afford to wait any longer. We push that you prioritize immediate reforms to enhance accountability, be not perturbed by sentiments that may lead to harbouring criminals whose missions are at variance with the national interest.
In addition, we suggest that you do a complete overhaul of the Navy’s architecture to ensure it returns to its professionalism. The rot in the Navy must not be allowed to subsist.
Mr. President, your prompt attention to this matter will restore the integrity of the Nigerian Navy and ensure that the country’s economic interests are protected.
We await your prompt actions on this matter. And as we navigate these challenging times, it is urged that you take our petition seriously and remedy the issues raised.
Yours sincerely,
ALHAJI BASIRU OLAOSEBIKAN – PRESIDENT
KIKELOMO IJAODOLA – DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATOR
