Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, on Saturday, has berated what he described as the decades of neglect and injustice suffered by Itsekiri oil producing communities and other parts of the Niger Delta region.
He declared that “enough is enough”, adding that the palace would no longer sit and watch as poverty, environmental degradation and the lack of infrastructure continued to be the lots of his people, adding that past failures would not be repeated, as Itsekiriland enters what he described as a new, irreversible era of justice, dignity, and accountability.
The monarch also accused multinational oil companies, particularly Chevron, of benefiting immensely from Itsekiri land while leaving the people impoverished, frustrated and marginalised.
Ogiame III while speaking on Saturday in Warri North local government area of Delta State after a tour of riverine communities, said that production figures and revenue statistics no longer impress the Itsekiri people, as they bear no resemblance to 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 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 said.
He described the Itsekiri nation as one of Nigeria’s key contributors to oil wealth, yet paradoxically among the least developed, blaming the situation on weak regulation, divide-and rule tactics by oil companies, and what he called 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 Tinubu, the Olu of Warri stressed that tolerance for internal collaborators and opportunists had failed and must give way to transparency, unity, and accountability within Itsekiriland.
Turning directly to Chevron, the monarch said the oil company’s decision to remain onshore in Itsekiriland carried a responsibility to be accountable to host communities.
He warned that the peaceful disposition of the Itsekiri people should not be mistaken for weakness.
He noted that living conditions in many Itsekiri communities were better before oil exploration began under Gulf Oil, Chevron’s predecessor, and cautioned that prolonged injustice could push peaceful communities toward desperation.
Addressing the Federal Government and the Nigerian nation, the Olu of Warri said nation-building must begin at the grassroots, stressing that poverty in the midst of 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.
