Warri Monarch Laments Decades Of Abandonment By Oil Firms

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, on Saturday decried decades of neglect and injustice suffered by Itsekiri oil-producing communities and other parts of the Niger Delta, saying, “enough is enough.”

He assured that the palace would no longer sit and watch as poverty, environmental degradation, and lack of infrastructure continue to affect his people, adding that past failures would not be repeated as Itsekiriland enters a new, irreversible era of justice, dignity, and accountability.

His Majesty accused multinational oil companies, particularly Chevron, of benefiting immensely from Itsekiri land while leaving the people impoverished, frustrated, and marginalised.

Speaking in Warri North Local Government Area after a tour of riverine communities, Ogiame said production figures and revenue statistics no longer impress the Itsekiri people, as they do not reflect the harsh living conditions in oil-bearing communities that have hosted petroleum operations for over 60 years.

“Those numbers no longer impress us, because they do not reflect the actual reality of the lives of our people on the ground. Peace without justice is not sustainable.

“This is not about contracts for a few; it is about dignity for all. That chapter is closed. The palace will no longer watch from a distance. Before oil came, our people lived better lives than they do today. No external actor can truly undermine us, unless someone inside unlocks the door.”

He described the Itsekiri nation as one of Nigeria’s key contributors to oil wealth, yet paradoxically among the least developed, blaming weak regulation, divide-and-rule tactics by oil companies, and internal betrayal by compromised local elites.

He warned that some individuals posing as community leaders had traded collective destiny for personal gain, acting as middlemen who profit from conflict while leaving the people exposed to exploitation.

According to him, no external actor can undermine the Itsekiri unless insiders “unlock the door.”

While acknowledging the efforts of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Olu stressed that tolerance for internal collaborators and opportunists had failed and must give way to transparency, unity, and accountability within Itsekiriland.

Turning to Chevron, the monarch said the company’s decision to remain onshore in Itsekiriland carries a responsibility to be accountable to host communities.

He warned that the peaceful disposition of the Itsekiri people should not be mistaken for weakness and noted that living conditions in many Itsekiri communities were better before oil exploration began under Gulf Oil, Chevron’s predecessor. Prolonged injustice, he cautioned, could push peaceful communities toward desperation.

Addressing the Federal Government and the Nigerian nation, the Olu said nation-building must begin at the grassroots, stressing that poverty amidst abundant oil wealth remains unacceptable in the Niger Delta.

He outlined clear development priorities for oil-producing Itsekiri communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), including electricity, potable water, healthcare, education, accessibility, gainful employment for locals, and environmental protection.