In the sun-drenched calm of Otuoke, Bayelsa State, the familiar stillness of the former President’s hometown was briefly interrupted on October 16, 2025. Word had quietly spread that a powerful delegation was arriving — not from Abuja, but from the creeks and oil channels that once defined the most turbulent years of the Niger Delta struggle. At the center of this visit was one of the most feared and respected men in the region’s history — High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, known simply as Tompolo.
After nearly a decade of self-imposed political silence, Tompolo’s re-emergence carried both symbolism and substance. This was no ordinary courtesy call. This was a mission — a political intervention laced with urgency, designed to send a message to one man whose next move could redefine the 2027 presidential race: Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
For weeks before the visit, rumors had swirled through Bayelsa and Abuja alike. Several of Jonathan’s old political allies — some quietly disenchanted with the current administration, others nostalgic for the pre-2015 era — had been whispering about a “Jonathan 2027 Project.” Some saw it as poetic justice: the man who had left Aso Rock with an unceremonious concession could, perhaps, return to reclaim it. But not everyone in the Niger Delta was on board.
And that’s where Tompolo came in.'
A Sudden Visit, Years in the Making
Eyewitnesses told The Bureau News that the visit began discreetly. A convoy of SUVs rolled into Otuoke under tight security. Inside the lead vehicle sat Tompolo, flanked by two of his most trusted allies — High Chief Kestin Pondi, the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, and Joshua Maciver, a former militant commander and the 2023 APC deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa State.
Their arrival stunned even some of Jonathan’s close aides. “Nobody expected Tompolo to show up in person,” one aide said. “He has largely kept out of political limelight since the amnesty days. So when he came with his team, everyone knew it was serious.”
The meeting, which stretched for several hours behind closed doors, reportedly went far beyond the casual talk of “peace and stability” that both men later told the press. According to multiple insiders familiar with the discussion, Tompolo’s mission was to dissuade Jonathan — firmly but respectfully — from entertaining any plan to run for president in 2027.
The Message: “The Time Has Passed — Support Tinubu Instead”
Sources close to both camps told The Bureau News that Tompolo began by praising Jonathan’s legacy — particularly his peaceful concession in 2015, which cemented his image as a democrat. But then, his tone shifted.
“He told Jonathan directly that the Niger Delta no longer wanted division or another cycle of uncertainty,” said one insider. “He said President Bola Tinubu had extended significant gestures to the region — the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the reactivation of oil sector reforms, and the proposed university in Ogoni land. For the first time in years, there’s a sense that the region’s demands are being listened to.”
Another confidant of the former President described the atmosphere in the room as tense but cordial. “Tompolo didn’t come to argue; he came to persuade,” the source said. “He told him plainly: ‘You’ve done your part. Let the man finish what he started. Don’t divide the house you built.’”
What made the message even more compelling was that it wasn’t coming from a northern politician or an Abuja lobbyist. It was coming from the soul of the Niger Delta struggle itself — a man whose voice still commands the loyalty of ex-agitators, oil communities, and power brokers across the creeks.
Invoking the “Patience Factor”
At one point during the meeting, according to a source present, Tompolo referenced Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan. Her open and public support for President Tinubu had not gone unnoticed. Earlier in 2025, she was seen at several national events praising Tinubu’s leadership style and calling him “a man who means well for Nigeria.”
“Tompolo reportedly told him, ‘Your wife has already seen the handwriting on the wall. Follow her wisdom,’” the insider revealed. “He said the people of Bayelsa are not in the mood for another political fight. Even Governor Douye Diri is quietly aligning with Tinubu. The grassroots tide has turned.”
In political terms, that moment was decisive. The Niger Delta’s informal leadership — from ex-militants to security contractors, youth leaders, and traditional chiefs — had begun coalescing around a pragmatic view: Tinubu should be allowed to finish two terms.
Tompolo’s Transformation: From Militant to Mediator
For many observers, Tompolo’s involvement in a national political negotiation marks a striking evolution. Once branded as a militant commander whose name evoked fear across oil platforms and government boardrooms, he has reinvented himself as a businessman, a security partner, and now a regional power broker.
Through Tantita Security Services, his company manages a multibillion-naira federal contract to protect oil pipelines — an operation credited with curbing large-scale oil theft and improving crude output. But beyond the economics, Tompolo has used his renewed influence to reposition himself as a stabilizing figure in a region long defined by volatility.
“He’s no longer the rebel in the creeks,” said a security analyst based in Port Harcourt. “He’s the bridge between the government and the grassroots. When he moves, people listen.”
And in Otuoke, he moved with purpose.
Jonathan’s Response: Calm, Diplomatic, and Calculated
When journalists caught up with Jonathan after the private meeting, his words were carefully chosen. “Since I left office, we haven’t seen each other,” he said with a calm smile. “Tompolo is one young man who has played key roles in maintaining unity and peace in the Niger Delta. We discussed ways to sustain peace and protect our oil installations.”
To the public, it sounded like a typical statesman’s statement — cautious, noncommittal, and politically safe. But those close to the former President say his silence spoke volumes.
“He’s thinking deeply,” one aide confided. “Jonathan knows the emotional pull of the Niger Delta. But he also knows the arithmetic of Nigerian politics. Without northern alignment, a comeback is nearly impossible. Tompolo’s visit may have just sealed that reality.”
The Niger Delta Recalibration
Within days of the Otuoke meeting, the ripple effects began to spread. Key traditional rulers, youth groups, and political operatives across Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa began echoing Tompolo’s message — some openly, others discreetly.
A group of former militant leaders under the Ex-Niger Delta Peace Network issued a statement describing Tinubu as “the first president in recent history to implement tangible projects for the South-South without political discrimination.” They cited the ongoing coastal highway, the revival of refineries, and new local content policies as evidence of the administration’s commitment.
“This is not about party lines,” said the group’s spokesman, Ovie Agbede. “It’s about progress. We cannot afford to start over because of emotion. Tompolo is right — we must consolidate.”
Why Tompolo’s Visit Matters
Political analysts say Tompolo’s intervention represents more than just an endorsement — it’s a recalibration of Niger Delta power dynamics. For decades, regional politics revolved around agitation and patronage. Now, a new model is emerging — one rooted in negotiation, strategic alignment, and federal cooperation.
“By convincing Jonathan not to run, Tompolo is essentially unifying the Niger Delta under one umbrella ahead of 2027,” said Dr. Tamuno Erekosima, a political sociologist at the University of Port Harcourt. “It positions the region as a key stakeholder in Tinubu’s second-term strategy — not as an opposition bloc.”
Others see it as a sign of maturity. “Ten years ago, this conversation would have happened with guns in the creeks,” Erekosima noted. “Today, it happens in a living room in Otuoke. That’s progress.”
Behind the Scenes: The APC Strategy
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is quietly encouraging regional heavyweights like Tompolo to take up “stabilization missions.” With growing opposition from northern political blocs and the Labour Party’s persistent influence in southern urban centers, Tinubu’s reelection strategy hinges heavily on consolidating the South-South and South-West.
By securing Tompolo’s backing — and, by extension, the loyalty of ex-militant networks — Tinubu gains an invaluable advantage: grassroots control over a region that once swung decisively against him.
A senior APC strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Bureau News, “What Tompolo is doing is patriotic. He’s protecting the Niger Delta from isolation. If the region fragments politically, it loses its leverage. Tinubu’s continuation ensures political and economic stability.”
Jonathan’s Dilemma
For Jonathan, however, the situation is more complex. Within his inner circle are loyalists who believe the former President still commands national goodwill. Some have argued that his international reputation — particularly his peace advocacy through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation — could form the basis of a fresh leadership narrative.
But the numbers tell a different story. Political analysts say the Nigerian constitution, legal ambiguities about term limits, and party realignments all make a Jonathan comeback extremely difficult. Moreover, his own state’s power brokers — including Governor Diri — appear to have shifted allegiance.
As one PDP chieftain put it bluntly, “If Jonathan runs, he’ll be running alone.”
Echoes from the Creek: Tompolo’s Growing Network
Meanwhile, Tompolo’s reactivation of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement — a grassroots mobilization structure designed to deliver votes for Tinubu — has accelerated. The group operates across Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers, with coordinators drawn from youth leaders, ex-agitators, and civil society groups.
Their message is clear: “Tinubu brought peace; let’s give him time to build prosperity.”
Tompolo himself has not publicly declared any partisan affiliation, but his recent activities leave little doubt. In August 2025, he hosted representatives from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Presidential Amnesty Office in Gbaramatu, pledging “unwavering partnership for development.”
Observers note that this new phase of engagement effectively positions him as the unofficial political anchor of the South-South — a role once occupied by Jonathan himself.
A Visit That Changed the Equation
By the time Tompolo’s convoy departed Otuoke that evening, the political temperature in the region had shifted. What began as speculation about a Jonathan comeback had transformed into a regional consensus about continuity.
Within Tompolo’s camp, aides described the trip as “historic.” One of them told The Bureau News: “For almost ten years, our leader avoided politics. This visit wasn’t about contracts or oil; it was about destiny. He wanted to ensure the region didn’t lose direction.”
Even critics admit the symbolism was powerful. “When Tompolo visits you, it’s not a courtesy call,” said a senior Bayelsa politician. “It’s a message.”
The Verdict of the Creeks
In the volatile calculus of Nigerian politics, symbolism often matters as much as substance. And Tompolo’s visit to Jonathan’s doorstep was both. It signaled the closing of one chapter — the era of Jonathan’s dominance — and the opening of another, defined by pragmatism and strategic alliance.
Whether Jonathan ultimately declares or withdraws, the writing appears clear. The Niger Delta’s most influential voices — once divided between nostalgia and ambition — have now rallied around a single narrative: stability over sentiment.
As one of Tompolo’s aides summarized the visit to The Bureau News, “We went to Otuoke to close the door gently. The man who once carried our hopes has done his part. Now, it’s time to protect the peace he helped create.”
In the end, the story of Tompolo’s quiet journey to Otuoke is more than a tale of political persuasion. It’s the story of a region learning to negotiate power with wisdom rather than war — and of a man whose return from the shadows may have changed the course of the 2027 election before the race even began.
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