My people, make we yarn small about wetin Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, talk as e gather journalists for some oil fields wey dey the Itsekiri sides. E really vex! Dis monarch don express im wahala say the Itsekiri people don dey suffer, despite say dem dey contribute plenty wealth for dis our Naija ground from oil.
The Fada say from the time wey oil don dey flow for dat area – over 60 years sef – na like this dem dey do dem. Oil companies dey chop big money, but wetin dem dey give back? Nothing! Na only wahala and neglect wey dey greet dem. Ogiame don fear say if dem no change wetin dem dey do, e go cause more wahala for everybody, as plenty Itsekiri people don dey tire of all dis rubbish.
As e dey talk, e no just dey blame the oil companies. E talk say some local leaders wey suppose carry everybody for the community along don dey trade dem own interests for small change. Na so dem dey call divide-and-rule for their games! Omo, dis thing dey pain me!
Olu no shy to call out oil companies and say make dem no mistake di calm attitude of the Itsekiri people for weakness. E even tell Chevron say since dem wan dey for dia area, make dem respect the community and do wetin dem suppose do.
And no forget, e still get nice words for Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, wey dey try do some roads and bridges wey dey connect dem coastal communities. But Ogiame tell am say no be small project, but plenty more work dey wey need to happen. E go need all the state and federal government land to make plenty things better.
At the end of the day, na the welfare of the people wey matter. E talk say make dem focus on things like light, water, health, education, and employment for dem people wey dey suffer. Dey fit use oil money to change their lives for better, but instead, wetin we dey see? Bad roads, poor schools, and many people dey hungry!
So, as we dey follow dis story, make we shine our eyes well well. Na from di grassroots wey change fit start. Ogiame don shout, and na true talk he don yarn. We gats carry the people dem along. Wetin we dey wait for?
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
