•Olu of Warri, King Ogiame Atuwatse III
The Olú of Warri, His Majesty Ògíamẹ̀ Atúwàtse III, has condemned the exploitation of the Niger Delta’s mangroves by foreign interests, describing it as “a new form of colonialism.”
This was disclosed at an art exhibition tagged: ‘The Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, the Mangroves and Art,’ an exhibition of paintings, drawings and watercolours by Dr. John Ed Debebs and curated by Oriiz Onuwaje, held in Lagos, reports The Guardian.
He warned that foreign entities are seeking to profit from the region’s natural resources without regard for the people or the environment, stating that the exploitation of the mangroves could have devastating consequences for the environment and the people who depend on them.
“This is a new form of colonialism. We will not allow our lands to be taken away from us by external forces. We will not stand idly by while our heritage is exploited for the benefit of others,” the Olú of Warri said.
He called for urgent action to protect the region’s natural resources and to ensure that any economic benefits derived from them serve the local communities first, while also emphasising the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of the region’s resources.
He said: “For centuries, the people of the Niger Delta have lived with and through the mangroves. These lands, stretching from the Bight of Bonny to the Bight of Benin, are more than just ecosystems; they are the lungs of our heritage.”
