The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has sent a clear and firm message to Chevron and other oil multinationals operating in Itsekiriland: the era of enduring poverty while sitting on vast mineral wealth is officially over. Following an extensive tour of riverine communities in the Warri North Local Government Area, the monarch declared that peace can no longer be maintained in the absence of justice, especially after sixty years of oil exploration that has left his people neglected.
During his visit, which coincided with renewed protests against Chevron’s local operations, the monarch did not mince words. The Olu pointed out that while billions of dollars have been extracted from these swamps, the local reality remains one of hardship and decay. He attributed this long-standing suffering to a combination of weak government regulation, “divide-and-rule” tactics by oil firms, and, quite significantly, internal betrayals by some local leaders who have put personal gain above the collective good.
Addressing Chevron’s leadership from their local offices all the way to their headquarters in Houston, the monarch warned the company not to mistake the peaceful disposition of the Itsekiri people for a lack of resolve. He noted that while many companies moved offshore to avoid community friction, Chevron remained onshore—a choice that comes with a direct responsibility to the people. He lamented that oil companies in the Niger Delta often seem to respond more quickly to threats and violence than they do to peaceful dialogue.
The Olu also extended this warning to other major players in the region, including Seplat, Sahara Energy, and Renaissance, urging them to break away from the failures of the past. He emphasized that the palace will no longer remain a passive observer while the environment is degraded and the youth are left without gainful employment. His demands are straightforward: stable electricity, clean water, functional healthcare, and digital connectivity for the host communities.
While the monarch was critical of the oil giants, he did acknowledge the efforts of the Delta State Government on infrastructure and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for showing a “listening ear” to the Itsekiri people. He described the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a vital tool for change, provided that regulators and companies prioritize genuine development over mere tokenism.
The message from the throne was a call for a total shift in how business is done in the Niger Delta. Citing the case of Ogidigben, where a 1990 promise of electricity took over thirty years to fulfill, the Olu stated that such delays are now a closed chapter. He vowed that the palace would stand firmly with every oil-bearing community to ensure they are treated as partners in progress rather than a “necessary evil.”
