* Warns Against Inflammatory Rhetoric, Calls for Transparency, Accountability and Independent Scrutiny of Pipeline Surveillance Contracts

By Favour Bibaikefie | October 8, 2026

The Palace of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, has strongly rejected allegations attributed to prominent Niger Delta Monarch, HRM. Alhaji Asari Dokubo, the Amayanabo of Toru Sarama Pri, that the Warri monarch receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts.

The denial was contained in a press statement dated Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and signed by Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its Joint Venture Partners.

The statement described the allegation as extraordinary and challenged Dokubo to substantiate his claims with credible documentary evidence, warning that unverified accusations involving sensitive national security arrangements could undermine public confidence and aggravate existing ethnic tensions in the Niger Delta.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the allegation that the Olu of Warri receives ₦2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts is categorically rejected,” the statement declared.

It further challenged the former Niger Delta militant leader to provide proof of his assertions.

“We challenge Mr. Dokubo to produce the documentary evidence upon which this extraordinary claim is based.”

According to the statement, allegations involving the traditional institution of Warri and Nigeria’s strategic oil infrastructure must be handled with the highest degree of responsibility, particularly considering the economic and security implications of pipeline surveillance operations.

Olu of Warri’s Representative Questions Dokubo’s Credibility

The statement also examined Dokubo’s history of political activism and militancy, arguing that his public interventions should be evaluated against the evidence supporting his claims rather than the influence or attention they generate.

Edema maintained that Dokubo’s political background and confrontational style of public engagement made it necessary to distinguish between allegations, personal opinions and established facts.

“That style may command attention, but attention should not be confused with credibility, and forcefulness should not be mistaken for evidence,” the statement noted.

However, the monarch’s representative acknowledged that Dokubo’s past should not automatically invalidate his position on matters of public interest.

He argued that neither a controversial political history nor a reputation for outspoken advocacy should determine the credibility of allegations involving public institutions and national assets.

“The temptation should not be to dismiss everything Dokubo says simply because of his militant past. That would be intellectually lazy,” the statement added.

It insisted that every allegation must be subjected to objective examination, irrespective of the personality making it.

Pipeline Surveillance Contracts Must Be Subjected to Public Scrutiny

Beyond rejecting the allegation against the monarch, the statement raised broader concerns about the management, allocation and oversight of pipeline surveillance contracts in Nigeria.

Edema emphasised that protecting the country’s oil and gas infrastructure is directly connected to national economic stability, government revenue, foreign exchange earnings and energy security.

He argued that the strategic importance of pipeline surveillance makes transparency and accountability essential in determining how contracts are awarded and implemented.

“Pipeline surveillance contracts in Nigeria are not ordinary commercial arrangements,” the statement stressed.

It explained that the security of petroleum infrastructure remains central to Nigeria’s economic survival, making it necessary for allegations concerning contract beneficiaries, procurement processes and operational performance to receive appropriate institutional scrutiny.

The statement consequently called for the examination of relevant contracts, corporate records, government approvals, procurement documents and performance reports whenever credible concerns arise.

It maintained that government agencies must establish facts through proper investigation rather than allow political accusations to dominate discussions about national security.

“The higher the national-security implications, the higher the evidentiary threshold should be,” Edema stated.

He further insisted that accusations of wrongdoing should be investigated by the appropriate authorities, while individuals or institutions accused of misconduct must be allowed to respond.

Statement Raises Questions Over Dokubo’s Changing Position on Tompolo

The Olu of Warri’s representative also questioned what he described as changes in Dokubo’s public position regarding pipeline surveillance contracts and High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

According to the statement, Dokubo had previously criticised Tompolo over pipeline security arrangements and issues connected with the Gbaramatu-Itsekiri dispute but had more recently defended him against criticism while directing allegations towards other interests.

Edema argued that such changes, although not necessarily evidence of wrongdoing or bad faith, raised legitimate questions about the circumstances informing Dokubo’s current position.

The statement maintained that the public deserved to understand whether these developments reflected new evidence, changing political considerations or evolving personal relationships.

“Such shifts do not, by themselves, prove bad faith; political positions can change,” the statement acknowledged.

Nevertheless, it called for greater consistency and clarity in public discussions concerning matters capable of influencing relationships among Niger Delta stakeholders.

Palace Warns Against Renewed Ethnic Tensions in Warri

A significant portion of the statement addressed the potential consequences of inflammatory political rhetoric for the fragile relationships among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in the Warri area.

Edema warned that public accusations involving traditional institutions, influential Niger Delta personalities and pipeline surveillance contracts could revive longstanding grievances if handled irresponsibly.

He noted that the Warri axis had experienced historical disputes and competition among communities, making restraint particularly important in contemporary political engagements.

According to him, the preservation of peace requires leaders and public commentators to exercise caution when discussing matters involving ethnic identity, resource control and economic opportunities.

“The Niger Delta has paid a heavy price for politics conducted through confrontation and inflammatory rhetoric,” the statement observed.

It warned against allowing politically charged statements to undermine efforts by responsible stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence.

The statement further emphasised that Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo relations should be strengthened through dialogue, mutual respect and responsible leadership rather than provocative exchanges.

Calls for Evidence, Accountability and Institutional Oversight

The monarch’s representative maintained that the controversy should not be reduced to a contest of influence between prominent Niger Delta personalities.

Instead, he urged relevant government institutions to prioritise transparency, due process and credible evidence in addressing allegations concerning pipeline surveillance contracts.

“Whoever makes the allegation should provide the evidence. Whoever is accused should have the opportunity to respond,” the statement declared.

It also cautioned against allowing ethnic considerations, political rivalries or personal influence to determine decisions affecting Nigeria’s petroleum infrastructure.

Edema stressed that the Federal Government and relevant regulatory institutions have a responsibility to ensure that pipeline security arrangements serve the country’s collective economic and security interests.

He concluded by emphasising the broader national significance of safeguarding critical oil and gas infrastructure.

“Pipeline security is ultimately about more than contracts. It is about protecting national assets, safeguarding economic activity and securing an important part of Nigeria’s economic survival. That responsibility demands facts, accountability and institutional oversight—not inflammatory rhetoric.”

The statement represents the position of the Olu of Warri’s Sole Representative in response to Dokubo’s reported allegation.

IduwiniVoice notes that the ₦2.7 trillion claim remains an allegation and has not been independently established in the material available for this report. The statement did not provide documentary evidence resolving the wider questions surrounding pipeline surveillance contract allocations.

The controversy has brought renewed attention to the need for transparency in Nigeria’s pipeline surveillance arrangements, alongside the importance of preserving peaceful relations among the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta.

Source: Press statement issued by Prince Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri to NNPC Limited/JV Partners, dated October 6, 2026.

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