Itsekiri-born Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh is a former regent of the Warri Kingdom and son of Nigeria’s first Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh. The former chairman of Chief Great Oboru Campaign Council in the 2023 governorship election under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Delta State and opinion leader in Warri Kingdom, in an interview with newsmen, addressed the issues surrounding the pipeline surveillance contract and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. EBENEZER ADUROKIYA brings excerpts.
What has been the issue between the Olu of Warri, some of his subjects and the Niger Delta State Stakeholders Forum (NDSF) that has generated a lot of discussions in newspapers and on social media?
We are appealing to Niger Deltans to leave the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III (CFR), out of unwarranted controversy generated through the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations by a disgruntled group, Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum, NDSF, against the revered royal father.
It is greed, loss of economic power, dwindling political and social influence coupled with stomach infrastructural exigencies that underline the dance of shame by the authors of the allegations and misinformation dished out by the NDSF, which the public must disregard in its entirety.
The Olu of Warri did not ascend the throne of Warri kingdom as a poor man, so those angling to bring his name into disrepute are pained that they cannot manipulate or influence him unduly with their ill-gotten wealth and persist in riding roughshod on the entire itsekiri nation as they did with the immediate past monarch, of blessed memory.
The king has chains of businesses he presides over, among which is the Pipeline Infrastructures Nigeria limited (PINL) that is not even in charge of the Trans-Forcados-Escravos pipelines security project in Delta State. And the king is not in competition with High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, in any pipeline security job. Every contractor has its sphere of operations and they have a cordial relationship.
What then are the reasons for the allegation by NDSF that PINL owned by the king is not performing in the ijaw areas?
That is what we do not understand, because NDSF does not award contract on behalf of the Federal Government or NNPCL and are therefore not in any position to determine a performing or a non-performing contractor. We are wondering how the termination of a contract in which the Olu of Warri is one of the directors translate into their selfish benefit. So, I’m wondering why they are alleging that the monarch is pocketing billions of Naira every month for doing nothing. PINL doesn’t even control 80 per cent of the entire surveillance job in the Niger Delta as alleged with misrepresentation of fact.
While PINL is handling Rivers, Imo and parts of Bayelsa states, Tantita is handling Delta, Ondo and parts of Bayelsa states respectively and there are no areas of conflict in job execution between the various contractors. So, why is the faceless NDSF trying to ignite unnecessary chaos and create bad blood in a venture that does not concern it?
What is your take on the statement made by the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) President, Dr Alaye Theophilus, on the lingering issue?
First of all, let me condemn in its entirety, the Itsekiri group for disparaging their royal father on social media. We commend the Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide for scoring the Olu of Warri high on execution of pipeline surveillance contract and for curbing the menace of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
The IYC, recently, through their president, Dr Alaye Theophilus, on behalf of the Ijaw nation, in a statement, debunked the NDSF’s statement that PINL was not doing well in the Ijaw areas, as he noted that PINL has over the years shown diligence and professionalism in the conduct of its job in the region, describing the Olu of Warri as a true son of the Niger Delta. The IYC president also stated that the Olu of Warri is a well-respected monarch in Nigeria, and charged persons still aggrieved with the emergence of the monarch not to cast aspersions on him, but to have a re-think on their misguided actions.
Most royal fathers across the globe, including King Charles of the United Kingdom, are into various businesses, so all those against the Olu of Warri for being a business guru should thank God they have such a versatile, vibrant, young and intelligent prince as their royal father. He has so many itsekiris in his companies and he is not defaulting in the payment of his employees or sub-contractors.
So, I am calling on all who sat as demigods over the common wealth of the Itsekiri nation for many years to retrace their steps, seek forgiveness and fall back in line for their own good and that of their followers and generations yet unborn.
I want to also express concern over the barefaced lies by NDSF against the Olu of Warri and call on President Bola Tinubu to look into the activities of PINL. Our president is knowledgeable and wise enough to read between the lines of the unpatriotic antics of the NDSF and their shenanigans.
Those in opposition to the Olu of Warri are a few people in the Itsekiri nation seeking relevance but are fast fading into oblivion with their belligerents and sacrilegious actions. And it is the height of demented imagination for a group of misguided youths to think they can run the Itsekiri nation aground. They had better wake up from their deep slumber.
PINL is doing creditably well in its areas of operation as attested to by the Ijaws working with the company and even commended His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse lll. That alone has exposed members of the NDSF as being untrue in all their claims that are tainted with deep-seated hatred, jealousy and envy.
Now, let’s talk about your late father, former Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh. What do you remember of him?
I was just 10 years old when he was killed in that military coup of 1966. The little I can say is my little personal experience with my father. What we were told and read later was that our father loved education so much. He taught us to respect our seniors. He was a very strict man, hard working. He had great love for our people and did not joke with issues relating to our Christian life and he built one for the Lord.
Where were you on January 15, 1966, and how did you receive the news of your father’s death?
On that day, we were at our family home at Ogorode in Sapele in the then Mid-West Region. As a young boy, what did I know about politics and coup? But we were made to understand that our father was taken away by the military and after some days, different stories were coming in. But finally, it became clear that they had killed him. It was a sad song and it felt bad.
As a little child, what are the things you learnt from your father?
My father taught us to have respect for people, to be bold, brave and not to be proud. He taught us not to hold grudges against anybody, but to forgive at all times and always ensure we serve God.
Given the fate of your father, are you not afraid of politics?
We all have our destinies; whatever will be, will be. It is my only way of making my contribution to mankind, so I will be not afraid. There was one senior military officer killed along with his wife. I think he was General Mamanlari. But the son joined the army. Even humans have different expiring dates.
How would you describe the Olu of Warri and how has his ascension to the throne enhanced the development of the ltsekiri nation?
His ascension to the throne has restored the pride of the Itsekiri people, because before now, it would appear like we were down and out in the comity of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and particularly in Delta State where we used to be the foremost in all ramifications.
Again, the coming of Atuwatse lll with so much clout, charm, charisma, vibrancy, youthfulness, educational background and inter-continental networks has attracted so much entrepreneurial and business-oriented ventures into Iwereland and further freed the Itsekiri people from the vice grip of some so-called demigods who, over the years, have converted the Itsekiri common wealth to their private pockets and deployed such ill-gotten wealth to oppress, suppress and intimidate the people into submission with no one with the financial muscle or wherewithal to challenge them.
Today, the Itsekiri nation has been set free and the majority of the people have regained their voices, privileges and humanity. The king has introduced so many empowerment programmes across the land for both male and female indigenes. He has also endowed scholarships schemes and skill acquisition programmes for the benefit of indigent children. His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse lll has done so much in just three years on the throne even though some misguided individuals have not afforded him the environment conducive to the exhibition of his God-given talents to the fullest.
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