The Amanyanabo of Okochiri in Okrika, Rivers State, HRM Michael Ateke Tom, has said his decision to take up arms during the Niger Delta militancy was aimed at forcing the federal government to confront the poverty and environmental degradation endured by the oil-rich region.
Speaking on Thursday as he hosted a delegation from the ECOWAS Parliament at his palace, the former militant commander turned monarch said the agitation ultimately pushed the government to act, paving the way for the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan, a son of the Niger Delta, as Nigeria’s president.
“My intention was to draw the attention of the Federal Government and the world to the plight of the Niger Delta, a region that produces oil and gas yet suffers the most,” Ateke said. “The agitation brought the Federal Government’s focus to our challenges. It was that same movement that created the opportunity where our people were remembered, like Goodluck Jonathan, could emerge as president.”
Ateke, who later helped persuade militants to disarm under the government’s amnesty programme, told the lawmakers that peace in the region was hard-won. “I appealed to the agitators to lay down their arms and give peace a chance, and many did. Today, we are seeing the results of that peace.”
He urged ECOWAS parliamentarians to use their platform to push for sustained development in the Niger Delta, warning that progress so far was insufficient. “There’s still a long way to go to lift our people out of poverty,” he said.
The visiting delegation, led by ECOWAS Parliament Speaker Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, praised Ateke’s role in peacebuilding. “Your efforts in ensuring peace in the Niger Delta are commendable and provide valuable lessons for the broader ECOWAS region,” she said.
Other parliamentarians, including Ghana’s Third Deputy Speaker Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Gambia’s Fourth Deputy Speaker Billay Tunkara, described Ateke as a figure of influence whose insights could help Nigeria and the wider region confront insecurity.
The monarch, distancing himself from politics, pledged readiness to support national efforts on peace and security. “As a traditional ruler, I am not a politician. I’m ready to contribute my experience to efforts aimed at restoring peace and security in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
