In order to pinpoint readers in a compass-like manner on the direction and essence of this publication, I begin this article by rendering the following quotes on leadership as culled from the views of an activist, a general, and an entrepreneur.

Beginning with Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement in the 1950's, he once said: "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a MOLDER of consensus." Still on leadership, the renowned General Colin Powell, the first Black Secretary of State in the United States of America, averred that: "Great leaders are almost always great SIMPLIFIERS who can cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand." Also, within the business community, the once richest man in the world, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corporation and the Gates Foundation, stated: "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who EMPOWER OTHERS."

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, TSSNL, is a private security organization chaired by High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (popularly known simply as Tompolo), whose display of leadership at the helms of affairs of the security firm is in tandem with the qualities of genuine and great leaders as portrayed in the quotes above. Indeed, no company drives itself in the absence of the vision of its leaders. That is why vision is a key component in the success of any organization, and getting the right leader(s) with the right vision is very important if such an organization must succeed. With the exploits of TSSNL, it is no doubt that Tompolo's visionary style of leadership has made the security firm a standout and an envy to other security outfits in the country.

First, while TSSNL has always been in the front media space, courtesy of the sensitive nature of its task to securing national oil and gas infrastructures, but of more recently, through the numerous merited awards the security firm had, and continue to garner from the watchdog of society and from other organisations, the Tompolo-led organisation has however successfully achieved a MOLDER of consensus status that MLK noted is one of the products of genuine leadership.

TSSNL is a recipient of the FUPRE Most Outstanding Oil and Gas Security Company of the Year Award it received in June 2023; the Rotary Club of Abuja Elites’ Prestigious Oil, Gas Award it received in July 2023; the New Telegraph’s Best Private Security Company Award 2024 it received on Friday, February 2, 2024; the 2023 Sun Newspaper Courage in Leadership Award it received on Saturday, February 17, 2024; the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Internal Security Meritorious Award it received in March 2024; the Vanguard Crude Oil Infrastructure Security Award for the Year 2023 it received in April 2024; and the Daily Independent Newspapers Security Company Award for the Year 2023 it received on Saturday May 4, 2024.

As confirmed by Tompolo's media aide, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, while receiving one of the awards on behalf of the TSSNL, was quoted as saying: "According to the Bible, Matthew 18:16… in the mouth of two or three witnesses, a word is established..." indicating the MOLDER of consensus status of the security firm, which to a great extent has laid to rest the views of detractors that the TSSNL is not qualified to execute such a sensitive contract of securing the nation's oil and gas infrastructures.

On the attribute of "great SIMPLIFIERS" as hinted by Gen. Powell, the TSSNL came to limelight at a time when the problem of oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region seemed a mystical problem that had defied all known security solutions. The situation was so bad that the oil and gas industry under the Federal Government was crumbling, losing revenues as daily crude oil production plummeted, worsened with investors thinning out. Of course, no right thinking investor would want to put money in a pocket full of holes!

But as soon as TSSNL was given the mandate, in just few weeks, a complex problem was made mundane with the security firm's operational strategy yielding fruits and boosting production statistics. Several illegal tapping points meant for stealing crude oil were discovered and unearthed within the Niger Delta region as well as the exposure of a well-organised cartel of oil thieves. In the end, TSSNL, with its strategic approach and knowledge of the terrain, had laid to rest the demystifying problem of oil theft in the region, thanks to the well coordinated effort of its disciplined personnel led by a visionary leader.

Lastly, the "EMPOWER OTHERS" status of a leader in the 21st century as envisioned by Bill Gates has always been demonstrated by Tompolo even before the coming of TSSNL. And in a manner of a corporate social responsibility (CSR), TSSNL through the vision of its leaders has affected countless lives in the oil-rich but impoverished region through its strategic "EMPOWERMENT" scheme. It has not only created jobs for multitudes of youths in the region across various ethnic lines (an evidence that its leaders are not tribalistic) but TSSNL, on various occasions, has lifted many out of poverty, supported businesses, and also contributed to infrastructural development as well.

It can be said that no other company in the history of Nigeria has demonstrated patriotism in the way that the TSSNL has shown in the course of it fulfilling its national assignment. TSSNL, beyond any doubt, has demonstrated patriotism not only to the government, but also to the people, in that it has shown that it has the well-being of the Niger Delta people at heart. While its feats have however, and unfortunately so, placed the security firm in an 'hate position' by those who feel threatened by its laudable achievements within a short space in time, it remains undisputed that the TSSNL has become a pace setter whose unrivaled achievements will always stand the test of time.

#penglobalreport #discourse #Tantita #Tompolo