Youth O’Clock Movement Backs Olu’s Comment on Niger Delta Neglect, Ready to Move from Advocacy to Action

WARRI

By Youdonghan Kemes

The Youth O’Clock Movement has thrown its full weight behind the recent comments of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, on the long-standing neglect of the Niger Delta, declaring its readiness to move beyond advocacy to concrete action aimed at addressing environmental degradation and socio-economic injustice in the region. The movement, in conjunction with Hon. Daniel Ezekiel, aka Aluta, House of Representatives Aspirant for Warri Federal Constituency, has vowed to champion youth-driven initiatives that translate words into meaningful outcomes.

Reacting to the Olu of Warri’s widely acclaimed BBC interview, the youth-based movement described the monarch’s intervention as courageous, timely, and reflective of the true condition of oil-producing communities whose sacrifices have sustained Nigeria’s economy for decades.

Youth O’Clock noted that the Olu of Warri’s forthright remarks on oil pollution, poverty, and underdevelopment in Warri and other Niger Delta communities have once again drawn national and international attention to a crisis that has too often been ignored or treated with mere lip service.

According to the movement, oil pollution is not just an environmental issue but a human survival crisis that has destroyed livelihoods, endangered health, and robbed generations of youths of opportunity and hope. Fishermen can no longer fish, farmers can no longer farm, and young people are increasingly trapped in unemployment and despair, fueling insecurity and social unrest.

Speaking on behalf of the movement, Comrade Hon. Daniel Ezekiel, aka Aluta, said the time has come to translate strong words into decisive action. He stressed that while advocacy has helped amplify the voices of marginalized communities, sustained progress will only be achieved through deliberate policies, community-driven development, and accountable leadership.

Aluta emphasized that the neglect of the Niger Delta is directly linked to youth unemployment, insecurity, and underdevelopment, noting that meaningful environmental remediation and economic empowerment must go hand in hand. He reaffirmed Youth O’Clock’s commitment to grassroots engagement, youth mobilization, and strategic partnerships aimed at creating jobs and restoring dignity to affected communities.

The movement maintained that the Olu of Warri’s intervention has strengthened the resolve of Niger Delta youths to demand justice and inclusive development, while also inspiring a new generation of leaders to rise in defense of their people.

Observers have described the monarch’s comments as a rare example of leadership that speaks truth to power and prioritizes the welfare of the people over political convenience. Youth O’Clock insisted that such principled leadership must be supported and replicated at all levels of governance.

According to the group, the Niger Delta does not need sympathy but action, representation, and accountability. Public office, it stated, must be seen as a responsibility to protect lives, land, and the future, rather than as an avenue for personal enrichment.

As the political horizon toward 2027 draws closer, Youth O’Clock, together with Hon. Daniel Ezekiel (Aluta), declared that it is ready to play a more active role in shaping the future of the region by promoting generational leadership rooted in service, integrity, and results.

The movement concluded by saluting the Olu of Warri for his bold, unifying, and courageous stance, reaffirming its determination to move from advocacy to action in the collective struggle for justice, development, and a sustainable future for the Niger Delta.