‘Show your Proof’ – Olu of Warri dares Asari Dokubo over N2.7trn contract allegation
Olu of Warri Challenges Activist Over Allegations of Pipeline Contract Misappropriation
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has called upon Niger Delta activist Asari Dokubo to substantiate his claim that the monarch and others receive an annual sum of N2.7 trillion from pipeline surveillance contracts.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Prince Collins Oritsetjmeyin Edema, the Sole Representative of the Olu to NNPC Limited and joint venture partners, addressed the allegations made by Dokubo regarding the award of pipeline surveillance contracts.
Dokubo had raised concerns over the contract allocations, which he asserts have unjustly benefitted certain individuals and entities, including the Olu of Warri.
In response, Edema characterized Dokubo’s claims as reflective of a longstanding persona associated with militancy and confrontational political rhetoric. He emphasized that allegations about the Olu of Warri and related parties should be approached with caution, given the politically and ethnically sensitive nature of the discourse surrounding such matters.
Edema remarked that the contracts related to pipeline surveillance are not typical commercial agreements but are vital to Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, which serves as a critical national asset. He pointed out that the security of these pipelines carries significant implications for crude oil production, government revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and overall economic stability in Nigeria.
He lamented that the Niger Delta has suffered due to politically charged confrontations and inflammatory remarks, cautioning against fostering old patterns of militancy and unrestrained rhetoric that could resurrect ethnic tensions in the region.
“The attention of the Sole Representative of His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III has been drawn to the recent public allegation by Mr. Asari Dokubo that His Majesty receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts,” the statement read.
“Given the extraordinary nature of this allegation, its potential implications for the reputation of the Olu of Warri, and the strategic importance of pipeline surveillance to the Nigerian state, we find it necessary to respond publicly,” it continued.
Edema firmly rejected the claim, asserting, “For the avoidance of doubt, the allegation that the Olu of Warri receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts is categorically rejected. We challenge Mr. Dokubo to produce the documentary evidence upon which this extraordinary claim is based.”
