His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom, a prominent traditional ruler and former militant leader in the Niger Delta, has stated that the militancy in the region was a crucial factor in the rise of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the highest office in the land.1
The monarch made the remarks during a courtesy visit by members of the ECOWAS Parliament to his palace in Okochiri, Rivers State.2 He explained that his decision to take up arms was to draw global attention to the suffering and marginalization of the people in the oil-rich region.3
According to King Ateke, the agitation by militant groups ultimately forced the Federal Government to focus on the challenges faced by the Niger Delta people.4 This heightened awareness and political pressure, he argued, created a new political dynamic that made it possible for an indigene of the region, Goodluck Jonathan, to become President of Nigeria.5
“The agitation brought the Federal Government’s focus to our challenges.6 It was that same movement that created the opportunity where our people were remembered; like Goodluck Jonathan could emerge as President,” 7he stated.8
King Ateke, who is now the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, also used the opportunity to urge the ECOWAS Parliament to use its platform to advocate for sustained development in the Niger Delta, emphasizing that while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to lift the people out of poverty.9
His comments underscore a widely held view among some Niger Delta leaders that the militancy, though violent, was a necessary catalyst that brought the region’s issues to the forefront and paved the way for a political shift in the country’s leadership.
