Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The wife of the Olu of Warri, Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, has insisted that her husband, Ogiame Atuwatse III, will not embrace polygamy, declaring that she alone is enough for him and dismissing any possibility that the monarch would reverse his position on taking another wife.
The queen consort made her position known in an interview with BBC News Pidgin published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, where she spoke about her marriage, her personal style and her role in the palace. Asked what she would do if the monarch, who had previously ruled out taking another wife, changed his mind, Atuwatse dismissed the possibility outright. “Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there. Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am,” she said.
Her comments come months after the Olu of Warri himself addressed the subject in a separate BBC Pidgin interview in January 2026, where he explained why he had chosen to remain married to one wife despite the tradition of polygamy among monarchs. “God did not give me that grace,” he had said, adding that the demands of the throne already stretched his time thin and that he preferred to protect his peace at home with his family. The monarch, who ascended the throne as the 21st Olu of Warri in August 2021, succeeding his uncle, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has consistently maintained that monogamy suits his temperament and his priorities.
Olori Atuwatse III, a lawyer by training, spoke candidly about the realities of being married to a traditional ruler. She said one of the things she enjoyed most about her marriage was watching the public celebrate her husband’s achievements. “The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am. And when the world dey celebrate am, e dey ginger me more,” she said. She described herself as “extremely proud” of the Olu as a human being, adding that seeing others appreciate him gave her joy.
She admitted, however, that the monarch’s schedule sometimes made it difficult for the couple to spend enough time together, given the weight of his royal duties. “Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult. And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” she said. The couple married on November 15, 2014, and have three children together.
The queen also addressed her signature turban, dismissing suggestions that her role restricted her sense of style. “My dressing is how I like it. People ask me why I dey cover my hair. My turban na my crown, na so I dey see am,” she said. She explained that she wears the turban whenever she is in “Queen mode” as a way of showing respect for the office she occupies, adding, “I no feel say I dey restricted.” In a lighter moment, she revealed a detail about how she and her husband coordinate their looks. “You want make I tell you secret? I be my husband stylist,” she said.
On politics, Atuwatse said she had no personal ambitions to run for office but encouraged women interested in politics to pursue it, noting that self-belief was important for women seeking leadership positions. She also spoke about her responsibilities as the mother of the kingdom and her hopes for the future of the Niger Delta, saying she was particularly concerned about the younger generation and believed quality education could play an important role in creating a better future for children across the region. According to her, education should not be limited to classroom learning or academic qualifications but should also consider the environment in which children grow and develop. She added that her vision was to contribute to a future where children in the Niger Delta have access to quality education and the opportunities needed to thrive.
The Olu of Warri’s stance on polygamy has drawn attention because it departs from the practice of many traditional rulers in Nigeria, where taking multiple wives is often expected of monarchs and local chiefs. His decision to remain monogamous has been framed by observers as a departure from convention, and his wife’s latest remarks reinforce the couple’s public position on the matter. The interview also offered a rare glimpse into the personal dynamics of the royal household, including the queen’s role in styling the monarch and her reflections on the challenges of sharing his time with the demands of the throne.
For Olori Atuwatse III, the interview was an opportunity to speak directly to the public about her life in the palace, her sense of style and her vision for the Niger Delta. For the Olu of Warri, her remarks serve as a reaffirmation of a position he has held since at least January 2026, when he told BBC Pidgin that God had not given him the grace for polygamy. The couple’s public consistency on the issue has made their marriage something of a rarity in the context of Nigerian royalty, and the queen’s declaration that she alone is “like three women” has been widely shared online, drawing praise from those who see it as a refreshing expression of confidence and commitment.
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