OLU OF WARRI: DELTA IS VOLATILE, ITSEKIRI SIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001306

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: OLU OF WARRI: DELTA IS VOLATILE, ITSEKIRI SIT
TIGHT-FOR NOW


Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. On September 20 the Olu of Warri, the
preeminent Itsekiri ruler, told the Consul General that Delta
State,s deteriorating security situation, compounded by the
low number of locals employed by oil companies, has created a
volatile situation. Despite poor development in Delta, the
Olu said the Itsekiri will wait to see what the Niger Delta
Development Commission, Federal, and Delta State governments
can achieve. The Olu lamented President Obasanjo,s recent
decision to defrock Vice President Atiku and truncheon his
electoral ambitions, seeing this as a sign of the
President,s lack of political refinement and of a caustic
personality. END SUMMARY.

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WARRI IN DECLINE?
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2. (C) Traditional Itsekiri ruler Ogiame Atuwatse II, the
Olu of Warri, declared to the Consul General on September 20
that Warri was increasingly volatile because of overcrowding,
inter-ethnic tension and lack of economic activity. The
federal and state governments had done little. Local workers
are incensed by the lack of oil company employment. While
companies are finding it increasingly difficult to work in
the Delta, their scaled down operations further estrange
locals from employment opportunities, the Olu postulated. He
stated that Warri needed to expand beyond its current
physical boundaries in order to create more space for people
to both live and work.


3. (C) A densely packed city with massive unemployment and
members of rival ethnic groups living in close proximity lent
itself to unrest, the Olu hypothesized. In order to create
the needed extra space, government would have to build the
appropriate infrastructure for city expansion. The Itsekiri
will wait to see what the Niger Delta Development Commission,
Federal, and State Government will do for development,
especially since some construction projects, like bridges and
roads, have been recently started, albeit late, the Olu
stated.


4. (C) The Olu's comments about the Ijaws were deprecatory
and evidence of thinly veiled ethnic tensions. With obvious
irritation, he claimed the Ijaws had encroached on Itsekiri
soil. He complained that not only had the Ijaws interloped
but they have stifled the city's economy by overrunning and
degrading most of the city's best trading centers. He
asserted that most Ijaws now living around Warri came from
other areas, mostly the creeks of Bayelsa State. They were
not used to living in a city and they do not consider Warri
theirs. Thus, they feel no compunction in abetting the
deterioration of the city by mismanagement of the formerly
active market and business areas.


5. (C) He complained that wherever Ijaws congregate they
"live and destroy" day by day with little regard for future
planning or consequences. Atuwatse also commented that
cocaine and hard drugs have been recently found in Warri
markets, linking these menaces to corruption in the police
and the military Joint Task Force, that has as its mandate to
protect the area from the Delta militants. Lastly, the Olu
blamed the Ijaw and complicit government partners for attacks
on oil company boats.

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OLD CHUMS FIND NEW PATHS
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6. (C) Describing himself as a long-time, but distant,
friend of President Obasanjo, the Olu said the President,s
squabbling with Vice President Atiku and use of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission as a strong arm against real
and perceived opponents revealed Obasanjo's true colors.
Describing Obasanjo as a person who pitches anger "When he
hears the truth," the Olu surmised that Obasanjo also pitched
a rage when his third term attempt failed. Now he is looking
for culprits to punish, the Olu stressed. The Olu speculated
that Obasanjo and Atiku's battle is so fierce, there are few
opportunities for either to back down. Lastly, the Olu
commented that Obasanjo's desire to acquire significant
Transcorp shares is confounding, particularly given his vast
wealth.


7. (C) On Delta State elections, the Olu said he has been
approached by over a dozen gubernatorial aspirants, but has
not offered his blessing to any yet. Atuwatse said he would
like to stay out of politics, but does not think this
feasible. He intimated Governor Ibori's cousin, the present
Secretary of State Government of Delta, will likely receive

SIPDIS
his blessing because, in addition to being Itsekiri, his
father was a member of the Olu's court.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) The Olu of Warri's comments echo what others have
said, primarily that Warri is quiet but no one should mistake
the quiet for harmony. If the Olu's warnings are prescient,
the most likely notes to end the quiet in Warri will be
discordant, possibly violent, ones. END COMMENT.
BROWNE