Beyond Words: Olu of Warri’s Bold Stand on Oil Pollution Resonates Across Niger Delta, Says Aluta
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Hon. Daniel Ezekiel, popularly known as Aluta, House of Representatives aspirant for the Warri Federal Constituency, has described the recent intervention of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a defining moment in the renewed struggle for environmental justice and equitable development in the Niger Delta.
According to Aluta, the monarch’s forthright and courageous stance on the devastating effects of oil pollution in Warri and its surrounding communities has gone beyond mere rhetoric, resonating deeply across the Niger Delta and drawing global attention to the long-neglected plight of oil-producing areas.
He noted that the Olu of Warri’s comments struck a powerful chord with millions of Niger Deltans who have endured decades of environmental devastation, economic exclusion, and poor living conditions despite the enormous wealth extracted from their land.
Speaking candidly during the interview, the revered traditional ruler challenged governments at all levels to move away from empty promises and take concrete, measurable actions toward the development of host communities that sustain Nigeria’s oil economy. Aluta described the intervention as timely and historic, noting that it has once again placed the Niger Delta crisis on the international agenda.
“The remarks of His Majesty have brought renewed national and global attention to the long-standing injustice suffered by the people of the Niger Delta — a region whose rivers, farmlands, and livelihoods have been destroyed while its people are left to bear the consequences,” Aluta said.
For decades, oil exploration activities have polluted rivers, degraded farmlands, and destroyed traditional occupations such as fishing and farming, plunging many communities into poverty, ill-health, and despair. While revenues from the region continue to drive development in other parts of the country, oil-bearing communities remain largely marginalized and underdeveloped.
Aluta stressed that oil pollution is no longer just an environmental challenge but a full-blown human survival crisis. He explained that fishermen can no longer fish, farmers can no longer farm, and thousands of youths are trapped in unemployment and hopelessness — a situation that has fueled restiveness, crime, and insecurity in the region.
It is against this backdrop, he said, that the Youth O’Clock Movement, led by Comrade Hon. Ezekiel Daniel Perela, has continued to champion advocacy, action, and people-centered leadership across the Niger Delta. Aluta noted that Honourable Perela has consistently stood with grassroots communities, engaged authorities, and pushed for policies that promote environmental remediation, job creation, and sustainable development.
He added that Honourable Perela understands the direct link between environmental degradation, youth unemployment, and insecurity, stressing that years of sustained activism have contributed to meaningful interventions that offer young people alternatives to crime and violence.
Observers, Aluta noted, have described the Olu of Warri’s intervention as a rare display of courageous leadership — one that speaks truth to power and gives voice to communities that have been silenced for too long. He emphasized that such leadership must be sustained and amplified by a new generation of leaders who are deeply connected to the struggles and aspirations of the people.
According to him, the Niger Delta does not need sympathy but action, representation, and accountable leadership anchored on service rather than personal gain. “Public office must be seen as a responsibility to protect lives, land, and the future of our people,” he said.
As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 political season, Aluta maintained that the time for generational leadership is now. He stressed that Honourable Ezekiel Daniel Perela has demonstrated, through both words and deeds, his readiness to stand where it matters most — with the people, for the people, and for generations yet unborn.
Aluta concluded by stating that the Youth O’Clock Movement is more than a political platform, describing it as a call for justice, a demand for responsible leadership, and a firm declaration that the voices of the Niger Delta will no longer be ignored.
He added that the entire Youth O’Clock Movement and the generality of Niger Deltans salute the Olu of Warri for his unifying, courageous, and solidarity leadership in standing up for his people and for the future of the Niger Delta.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 20TH 2026)
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