Moni Marks Birthday, Recounts Leadership Role in Warri Crisis, Describes Tompolo as Divine Blessing

By Peters Monday, Abuja

The pioneer chairman of the Meinbutu freedom fighters in Warri, Delta State, Chief Ebis Moni, the Sukereowei 1 of Operomor Kingdom marked his historic birth anniversary on August 15th September, 2024.

Chief Moni recounted his leadership ordeals during the famous Warri Crisis, describing High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo as a divine blessing to the Ijaw nation and Niger Delta region.

Moni, now a traditional chief gave glory to God for surviving him in the Warri crisis, despite the fact that he took the centre stage of the crisis. He reflected on Tompolo’s unwavering roles and commitment in the crisis, affirming his philanthropic works before the Warri crisis and after the Warri crisis.

According to him, his birthday should be celebrated around Ijaw nation, he had served Ijaw people diligently to deserve accolades and special recognition. My efforts from the Urban and Tompolo from the River gave the Ijaws the total freedom in Warri and Delta State politics.

His episode reads, “I’m Chief Ebis Moni, the pioneer chairman of Meinbotus freedom fighters. Today, the 15th of September 2024 is my birthday. I decided to accept the fight to free my people from the shackle of oppression in Delta State due to the love and passion I have for my Ijaw of People.

“I was at the forefront of the famous Warri crisis that snowballs into the Niger Delta struggle. In the cause of freeing up our people, we lost many illustrious sons. I did all my best to create a speaking space for the Ijaws of Delta, especially that of the Warri Axis.

“I have laboured for the Ijaw people, because we are not good students of history, little did we know about my contributions. I decided to reveal this for our younger ones to know what transpired during the Warri crisis for posterity sake”, he narrated.

However, Moni said he was born and brought up in Warri and according to him when growing up in those days, Ijaws in Warri were like slaves.

“It was a sad episode, sometimes you will see boys from our neighbouring tribes dragging some Ijaw girls to secret places to have undue sexual affairs with them without challenge from any corner.

“There was a day when I was moving with some of my guys along the market road, a similar incident happened again in my presence, I rushed to the scene and started fighting the boys to rescue the girl, you understand!

“That is how I started fighting for all the oppressed Ijaws in the market road and Ludo night club in cemetery road in Warri where they always rape our girls, especially days our late musical hero king Dr Robert Ebizimor used to play at every month ending.

“I was so passionate about saving my people from oppression at all times as far as Warri Ijaws are concerned.

This was applicable to my own Mother, Mrs Pena-ere Moni, she herself was seriously fighting for Ijaws in the market road, she rescued many women who were trapped and intimidated during their business trip to Warri from their villages.

“She arrested some of those oppressors with police in Daudu police station on her capacity as old Warri with the mindset of fighting for her people’s freedom. My mother was such a woman that can’t be quiet when you are oppressing Ijaw people in her present, it’s a taboo for her, that was who she was then.

“I inherited the same lifestyle from my mother, hence I was able to lead the urban war during the Warri crisis. At the eve of the crisis in March 1997 they started looking for someone to lead the Ijaws in the Warri metropolis.

“So the Ijaw stakeholders gathered in Warri and they agreed that l am the only person that can lead the Ijaws in this Warri urban crisis. So l took over and l gave Ijaw nation victory.

“It’s all about sincerity, truthfulness, brevity and passion I had for my people. It’s all because of what I had done to help my people in the past that earned me that rare privilege.

“I, Chief Ebis Moni never contemplated betraying the Ijaw to benefit myself since then till now and it will never happen till the day God will call me home.

“Those close to me know what happened in 2003 after the famous Warri crisis, the rest is history I will never ever sell out my people.

“Then as for our leader GOC, the “Awoubodau” of the Niger Delta region, alias Tompolo, will forever earn Ijaw nation respect.

The way I knew him in 1996 was that, he was having an office opposite old Warri airport.

Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo was a philanthropist ever since. He was empowering people, men, women boys and girls far back in the 90’s as well. His kind gesture towards humanity doesn’t start today, it’s way back when he wasn’t even financially buoyant.

“He is a gift from God almighty to save the oppressed Niger Delta people. I must appreciate him for what he is doing to the people of the region in terms of empowering the youths, infrastructural development, environmental safety, protection of the waterways, national asserts and otherwise.

“Why am I saying all this was that a good person is known by what you do, and most times it is genetics. Good people are known from birth, while growing up, those good traces must be noticed.

That is what we’re experiencing from our hero, GOC today.

Till now, he has not changed from doing good and helping people. Helping and empowering people have become part of him.

He is a blessing to the Ijaw nation, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. This is a gift from me on my birthday to Tompolo” says Chief Ebis Moni”.