Niger Delta Coalition Faults Asari’s Claims, Against Olu of Warri

The Niger Delta Coalition has rejected the latest allegations by former Niger Delta militant leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari against the Olu of Warri.
It described the claims as baseless, unjustified and unsupported by credible facts or evidence.

The collation, in a response to Asari’s latest intervention, said the allegations were particularly troubling given the delicate peace-building efforts involving the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities in Warri and the wider Niger Delta.

Mr Temisan David, on behalf of the coalition, said it was important for public figures commenting on sensitive regional issues to distinguish between verifiable facts and assertions capable of inflaming old grievances.

David said the available record does not support attempts to portray the Olu of Warri as a source of tension in the region, noting that he publicly called for calm among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities in June and warned against allowing disagreements to degenerate into violence.

The Coalition further questioned the consistency of Asari’s latest position, recalling his previous disagreements with Olu of Warri, particularly over the pipeline-security contract.

In 2022, Asari publicly criticised Olu of Warri over the contract and made claims concerning the longstanding Gbaramatu-Itsekiri dispute. More recently, however, he has defended Olu of Warri against some criticisms while directing allegations at the Olu of Warri and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).

The Coalition said the apparent contradictions in Asari’s public positions make it necessary for his latest claims to be subjected to serious scrutiny rather than accepted without evidence.

“Public allegations, particularly on issues involving traditional institutions, security contracts and ethnic relations, must be backed by facts, documents and verifiable evidence,” the Coalition said.

It cautioned that unsubstantiated claims could have consequences beyond the individuals being targeted, particularly in a region where ethnic sensitivities have historically been exploited by political and other interests.

The group also questioned the timing of the latest statements, saying they came at a period when the political atmosphere was already becoming increasingly tense.

“Who benefits from reopening old wounds at this particular time? That is the question responsible stakeholders should be asking,” the Coalition said.

The Coalition stressed that any allegation concerning the Olu of Warri, PINL, Olu of Warri or any other individual or organisation should be investigated through appropriate institutional and legal channels.

It, however, warned against using allegations as a means of provoking ethnic suspicion or undermining the fragile peace among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities.

The Coalition urged Asari and other regional voices to exercise restraint and responsibility, insisting that the Niger Delta needs constructive engagement based on facts rather than rhetoric.

It said the region had made significant progress in building dialogue and peaceful coexistence and should not be dragged back into an era of suspicion, confrontation and ethnic mobilisation on the basis of claims that have not been substantiated.

The Coalition therefore challenged Asari to provide documentary evidence for any allegation he has made, rather than rely on assertions that, in its view, are unsupported by the facts currently available.

It maintained that accountability is welcome, but that accountability must be anchored on evidence, transparency and due process—not allegations capable of unnecessarily destabilising the region.