The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has again attracted attention with his unconventional public appearance after riding an electric scooter while inspecting preparations for the fifth anniversary of his coronation in Warri, Delta State.
The monarch carried out the inspection on Saturday, August 8, 2026, during his morning fitness routine in Okere, Warri, as activities continued ahead of the celebration of five years of his reign.
Rather than moving around in the traditional royal motorcade, Ogiame Atuwatse III chose an electric scooter for the inspection tour. He was accompanied by members of his security team as he moved through the area to assess the level of preparation for the forthcoming anniversary programme.
The development was captured in a video shared on the monarch’s official Facebook page on Saturday.
The footage showed the Olu of Warri moving around the area on the scooter while observing the preparations taking place. His appearance also drew the attention of residents and other people who encountered him during the inspection.
The people who saw the monarch reportedly hailed and cheered as he went about his activities, adding a lively atmosphere to the inspection.
The latest appearance has also generated reactions from social media users, many of whom praised the monarch for his informal and accessible approach to public engagements.
One Facebook user, Iniobong Esen, commended the monarch for moving around openly and described the approach as an example of leadership that allows a ruler to remain connected with the realities of his people.
Another user, Avwerosuo Amos Govina, praised Atuwatse for his style and described him as a king with “class and charisma”, while Enujeke Prosper referred to him as the “Digital king with a difference.”
The reactions reflect the attention that the Olu of Warri has repeatedly received for choosing relatively unconventional means of transportation during some of his public appearances.
His use of an electric scooter is not entirely new. In March 2025, the monarch was filmed riding a scooter through his ancestral home, Ode-Itsekiri, where residents and followers welcomed him with cheers and songs. The video was reported in the news on March 15, 2025, after it surfaced online.
That appearance quickly became a talking point because of the contrast between the traditional image of a monarch and the contemporary way in which Ogiame Atuwatse III moved through the community.
The king’s wife, Olori Ivie Atuwatse III, later spoke about his distinctive style during an appearance in an interview, in March 2025. She acknowledged her husband’s approach to doing things differently and was asked whether she would also ride a scooter like the monarch.
The Olu of Warri returned to the spotlight in December 2025 when he again used an electric scooter, this time while inspecting the Trans-Warri-Ode-Itsekiri Road in Delta State.
During that inspection, the monarch was seen riding along the newly completed road while security personnel and officials followed behind in vehicles. The project was described as an important infrastructure development for the Warri Kingdom and surrounding riverine communities.
The Trans-Warri-Ode-Itsekiri route includes a network of bridges and was designed to improve access to Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral capital of the Warri Kingdom. The project had experienced delays over several years before its completion.
The monarch’s repeated use of a scooter during public engagements has consequently become part of his increasingly recognisable public image.
Ogiame Atuwatse III ascended the throne of the Warri Kingdom in 2021 and has frequently been portrayed as a monarch seeking to combine the traditions and responsibilities of the ancient institution with a more contemporary style of leadership.
His fifth coronation anniversary is now being marked with a number of activities in the Warri Kingdom. One of the anniversary-related events scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, is a special golf tournament tagged “Five Glorious Years on the Throne.” The event is expected to bring together traditional and political figures, business leaders as well as golf enthusiasts.
The wider anniversary programme also forms part of efforts to bring members of the Itsekiri community together to celebrate the monarch’s five years on the throne.
An event listing for the 2026 Itsekiri Global HomeComing says the programme is scheduled for August 17 to 21 and will celebrate the Warri Kingdom while marking the Olu’s fifth coronation anniversary.
For residents and observers, however, Saturday’s scooter ride offered a more informal glimpse of the monarch as he personally monitored activities ahead of the anniversary celebrations.
The inspection also reinforced a pattern that has emerged around Ogiame Atuwatse III’s public engagements: while maintaining the ceremonial responsibilities attached to the throne, he has repeatedly adopted a modern and less conventional style when interacting with his environment.
His latest scooter appearance has therefore become another moment attracting attention as the Warri Kingdom prepares to celebrate five years of his reign.
The Olu of Warri is expected to participate in further activities connected with the anniversary in the coming days as the kingdom continues preparations to commemorate the milestone.