The Warri crisis is an enduring occurrence and legacy of colonial manipulation, historical obliteration, and geographical thievery. Like a festering wound, this decades-long conflict continues to suppurate, fuelled by the combustible forces of ethnic tensions, disputes over political control, and the struggle for access to oil revenue. The festering scars of this crisis run deep, with over 200,000 people displaced by the conflict between 1999 and 2006, and a staggering 700,000 displaced by violence in Delta State overall.

At its core, the Warri crisis revolves around competing claims of ownership and belonging among the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic groups. The Itsekiris claim Warri as their homeland, whilst the Ijaws and Urhobos assert their own historical and ancestral ties to the land. This dispute has been further complicated by colonial legacy, with the British colonial administration exacerbating existing tensions through their policy of indirect rule and manipulation of traditional institutions. The resultant power imbalance has had far-reaching consequences, shaping the trajectory of the conflict and rendering it increasingly intractable.

In a just and divine order, when a thief of any magnitude is caught, they lose their false inheritance, and the original owner reclaims their rightful possession. The Warri Ijaws and their leaders have fought a long and arduous battle to address the gross violation of their right to self-determination, bleedingly and with uncomfortable patience, enduring psychological trauma to restore their humanity, their history, their geography, their voice, and their right to political participation. Their struggle is a testament to the resilience of a people determined to reclaim their fundamental rights, which were crumbled and ethnocentrically suppressed through colonial and postcolonial agencies and governmentalities. This struggle is neither violence nor subjugation, but a courageous stand for justice, equality, and the recognition of their inherent dignity.

The Supreme Court’s fair judgment and INEC’s sincere and valid ward delineation exercise are significant milestones in this journey. It is imperative to note that these developments do not justify the vilification of Warri Ijaw leaders like Tompolo and Tantita, who are not national enemies, but rather citizens with sacred responsibilities to their nation. The notion that they are enemies of the state is a misguided narrative that should be put to rest.

The question remains: Who is more Nigerian between the Itsekiris and Ijaws? The answer is simple: both are equally Nigerian, with equal rights and responsibilities. The satanic campaign against Tompolo, Tantita, and the Warri Ijaws should cease, as it is unjust and unpatriotic. If the Ijaws were the ones caught importing arms, the story would have been different. However, the fact that an Itsekiri patriot was caught with sophisticated weapons of destruction in the midst of the trouble in Warri, sparked by the ward delineation exercise, points to the desperate and crude approaches employed to secure justice. Only desperate parties apply crude and desperate approaches to secure justice. The fact that some individuals resort to such tactics underscores the need for a more nuanced and equitable approach to resolving the Warri crisis.

The people of Warri can now begin to heal the wounds of the past and forge a more harmonious future, with the Federal Government, INEC, and the Senate President playing a proactive role in ensuring that the rights and dignity of all parties are prioritised.

Warri is a vibrant celebration of ethnic diversity, where inclusivity is valued and cherished. It is not the traditional headquarters of the Itsekiris, but rather a melting pot of cultures, where the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic groups converge. The notion that Warri is a homeland exclusively for one group is a narrow perspective that neglects the rich tapestry of cultural heritage that Warri embodies. In reality, the ancestral spirits of the Itsekiri people reside in Ode Itsekiri, the land they founded, not in Warri. It is there that their history, culture, and traditions are deeply rooted.

Ode-Itsekiri is the spiritual and historical heartland of the Itsekiris, it is their ancestral roots and, therefore, their homeland. Why then, is Warri given precedence over Ode Itsekiri, which is affectionately referred to as Big Warri? Is it not again divine order to make a younger brother a Senior brother? Or a stranger your biological father? Is it time to re-evaluate the significance of ancestral homelands and settlements, and to prioritise the rights and dignity of all parties involved. By acknowledging the historical and cultural contexts of each ethnic group, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable solution to the Warri crisis.

A homeland is a sacred and ancestral land, passed down through generations, its ownership woven into the very fabric of tradition and heritage. It is a land of unbroken lineage, where the roots of identity, culture, and history run deep, nourished by the stories and struggles of those who came before. It is a land that holds the memories of ancestors, the whispers of ancient traditions, and the rhythms of timeless customs. A homeland is not just a geographical location; it is a repository of collective memory, a symbol of resilience, and a testament to the enduring spirit of a people.

As we reflect on the Warri crisis, it is essential to acknowledge the historical and cultural contexts that have shaped the conflict. The Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic groups each have their own unique stories, struggles, and traditions that are deeply rooted in their ancestral lands. By recognizing and respecting these differences, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable solution that prioritizes the rights and dignity of all parties involved.

The journey towards peace and reconciliation begins with a single step – a step towards understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. Let us take that step today, and work towards a future where the people of Warri can live in peace, prosperity, and harmony.

In the esteemed realm of public service, where visionary leaders shape the destiny of nations, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro stands as a paragon of transformative excellence. As the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Otuaro has been orchestrating a symphony of progressive reforms, imbuing the initiative with renewed vitality and purpose. His appointment has been a masterstroke, yielding a cascade of innovative endeavours that have redefined the programme’s trajectory.

With great commitment to excellence, Dr. Otuaro has been the driving force behind the PAP’s resurgence, leveraging his vast experience and acumen to navigate the complexities of the Niger Delta region. His leadership has been a strength of hope, illuminating the path towards sustainable development, peace, and prosperity.

Under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship, the PAP has undergone a metamorphosis, emerging as a bastion of hope and opportunity for the Niger Delta region. Some notable achievements that underscore his impact are as follows:

Dr. Otuaro has breathed new life into vital programmes, including foreign scholarships, marine training initiatives, vocational training, and empowerment schemes, which had previously been suspended. Over 2,000 students have been deployed for scholarships in various universities in Nigeria and abroad, kindling a sense of promise and possibility among the youth.

Chief Dennis Otuaro’s administration has engaged extensively with stakeholders, including ex-agitators, community leaders, traditional rulers, women, and youth groups from the Niger Delta, fostering a greater sense of community involvement and support for the amnesty initiative. This inclusive approach has been instrumental in building trust and cooperation among the various stakeholders.

Dr. Otuaro launched a transformative three-day training focused on leadership, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and mediation for Niger Delta ex-agitators, stakeholders, and beneficiaries. This initiative has equipped participants with essential skills for effective leadership and conflict resolution, empowering them to become agents of change in their communities.

Under his leadership, the PAP has been sanitsed and repositioned to effectively execute its mandate, with a focus on transparency and accountability. This renewed emphasis has made the programme more result-oriented and productive, yielding tangible benefits for the Niger Delta region.

The PAP Boss, has built partnerships with institutions, such as the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and the Bayelsa State Medical University, to tackle challenges in the Niger Delta region, including the shortage of medical professionals. These strategic alliances have been pivotal in addressing the region’s pressing needs and fostering sustainable development.

His administration has demonstrated a commitment to empowering the youth and fostering development in the Niger Delta, with a focus on sustainable progress and peace in the region. This dedication to the well-being of the Niger Delta’s inhabitants has been a hallmark of Dr. Otuaro’s leadership, inspiring hope and confidence among the populace.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves deep-seated commendation for appointing Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro as the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. This appointment is one of the best decisions that favours both the Vision of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the youths of the Niger Delta.

Through Dr. Otuaro’s visionary leadership and commitment to excellence, the PAP has undergone a significant transformation, yielding tangible benefits for the Niger Delta region. We are confident that under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship, the PAP will continue to thrive, empowering the youth and fostering development in the region.

Ben Binebai

By Julius Ogunro

It is barely over a year since Dennis Otauro, PhD, was appointed as the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Still, in that short time, his impact as the region’s strong voice, advocate, and the president’s outreach arm, bringing hope and development to the Niger Delta, has grown significantly.

When he was appointed in March 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, his designated beat was the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), which was established in 2009 to manage the disarmament, rehabilitation, and reintegration of frustrated Niger Delta activists, some of whom had taken up arms against the government to protest the region’ economic marginalization and the degradation of its environment by oil exploration.

From 2009 until March 2024, the amnesty programme was led by several administrators, who bore different titles and did their best to achieve its mandate of peace and security in the Niger Delta through the payment of stipends to ex-agitators and the provision of vocational and formal education opportunities to members of the communities impacted by the militancy.

Then enter Otuaro. His vision for the Programme is bold, transformative, and inclusive. Apart from the agitators who are on the government payroll, he has refocused the amnesty programme to capture the next generation of Niger Delta leaders, expanding its frontiers to cater to the interests of a range of stakeholders, especially women and young people.

His strategy centres around a broad range of initiatives designed by him and his team to foster enduring peace and prevent any resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region. One of these is the Programme’s intervention in expanding education opportunities, especially the scholarship scheme for undergraduates from the Niger Delta.

Although Otuaro did not initiate the undergraduate scholarships scheme, which had existed for many years before his appointment, he has so reinvigorated it that the award, to use a metaphor, has been given a new lease of life.

Before Otuaro, only a few hundred Niger Delta students managed to get the annual scholarships through a cumbersome process, as it was opaque and many had criticised it for being unfair and lacking integrity. Perhaps this was because the previous administrators did not consider education a top priority and viewed the scholarships as not central to their role at Amnesty.

But Otuaro’s vision is different. In his first year as administrator, the undergraduate scholarship scheme has increased from a few hundred students to over 3000. Even more, the award process is now more open and inclusive, starting with a media announcement for interested Niger Delta youth to apply, with assurance that merit will play a significant role in the process.

And merit did play a role in the grant of the scholarships for the current session. Many prospective students applied, did the aptitude tests, and were awarded the multi-year scholarship, which covers tuition, accommodation, and living expenses, with little or no influence from the amnesty office, a far cry from what used to happen in the past, when there were complaints that money had exchanged hands.

In addition, the overseas postgraduate scholarship, suspended by the previous administrators, has been reinstated and broadened. For this current academic session, about 70 Niger Delta postgraduate students were awarded foreign scholarships to universities in the US, Canada, Britain, and other overseas countries. Otuaro made sure that the awardees are pursuing courses that are development-focused and relevant to the material needs of the Niger Delta people.

Otuaro’s footprints are also visible in vocational training. With 98 delegates deployed for maritime-related skills training, including refresher courses at Joemarine Institute for Officer of the Watch (OOW) certification; 40 Niger Delta youth trained as aircraft maintenance engineers; another 39 deployed for on-the-job training at organisations like Seven Star Global Hangar and Aero Contractors; and four cadet pilots sent to South Africa for type-rating training, with successful graduation and return to Nigeria.

The focus on human development and young people appears to be a genius move by the administrator of the amnesty programme, and a strategy to stop future militancy before it even happens. In the mid-1990s and early 2000s, the Niger Delta boiled as several groups took up arms against the government and oil companies to protest the neglect of the region, which is the goose that lays Nigeria’s golden egg, as nearly all the oil exploration and production take place there.

Pipelines were destroyed, workers kidnapped, and oil production was significantly disrupted, leading to huge economic losses for Nigeria and the oil companies operating in the region. The militancy also led to a humanitarian crisis, with many communities suffering from the effects of oil spills, environmental degradation, and violence. The dire situation drew global attention and concern, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of the conflict and promoting sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta region.

The federal government’s response was the amnesty programme in June 2009. Over three years, up to 2012, three phases of the programme were declared to reintegrate thousands of armed militants and pacify the region. It has been over a decade and a half since the first phase of the amnesty scheme began, and many of the beneficiaries are thus getting old and have probably lost the appetite for armed struggle.

Yet the conditions that gave rise to the uprising still exist, despite the government’s efforts over the years. The fear is that those challenges may breed the next generation of militants, angry over the prevalence of poverty and underdevelopment of the Niger Delta.

That is why Otuaro’s strong intervention in human development in the Niger Delta, through various initiatives in formal and non-formal education, is brilliant and commendable. That he has implemented the schemes openly and transparently, thus giving the son of a fisherman and the daughter of a boat-maker in the creeks a chance to make something of themselves, is nothing short of transformative, providing hope and opportunities to the overlooked voices.

And he has done all this while not neglecting the original agitators on the government payroll, ensuring they are paid promptly, resolving challenges related to payment delays, offering suitable training to wean them off government handouts, and advocating for qualified beneficiaries’ placement in jobs in the public service.

Otuaro’s impact in just one year is visible and enduring. An asset to the current administration, he is proof that government in its purest form is not merely an idea or an institution on paper but a living presence, something that can be seen, heard, and felt in the everyday lives of the people.