CC™ Global News
Worried by perceived threats to unity in Delta State, some leaders have called on the Olu Of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and Itsekiri elders to make efforts to restore trust in the area.
The leaders, including Warri indigenes of Itsekiri extraction, also known as Iwere Consultative Forum, made the appeal in an open letter addressed to the monarch, which was made available to journalists in Abuja.
Areas of concerns to the leaders include recent installation and suspension of some chiefs in Warri. Atuwatse III, last April, installed Chief Oma Eyewuoma as the new Ologbotsere of Warri, while Chief Ayiri Emami was still in court challenging his suspension as Ologbotsere.
Emami was suspended as Ologbotsere of Warri and Chairman of Olu Advisory Council, following the crisis that followed the selection of the sitting Olu of Warri, Tsola Emiko, as Olu designate.
Also recently, there was a face-off between a prince of Warri, Prince Yemi Emiko, and a prominent elder, Mene Brown, over the latter’s comment that princes have no say in running the affairs at the Olu palace and the Itsekiri Kingdom.
Chairman of the Iwere Consultative Forum, Prince Clem Ade Omotoye and Secretary, Prince Arubi Ajofotan, in the joint letter, described the recent incidents as unfortunate and embarrassing to the Itsekiri nation.
While they argued that there had not been enough consultations in some of the actions attributed to the monarch, they pleaded that the interest of the people should be paramount.
“The question that comes to mind is: Where are the Olu’s traditional advisers, the chiefs? Where are his handlers and confidants?
“We feel that the Ologbotsere matter, should have been handled differently, with more circumspection and with more regard to Itsekiri integrity.
“The present spat between Chief Mene Brown and Prince Yemi Emiko does not augur well for some parties in the existing legal suit. We feel it does not spell well to the foundation of the coronation.”
They lamented that the situation in the kingdom is moving at a frightening pace required that something be done fast to ameliorate real and perceived wrongs and misgivings.
“Again,we must understand that Ogiame is not sovereign. He, like other traditional rulers in Nigeria, is not guaranteed special protection by the Constitution in a democratic setting, as we have in the country today.
His powers are at the behest of Itsekiri, Ogiame is the Lord of the people but Itsekiri own the Ogiame (mini mini igbo, igbo mini). His powers are derived from Itsekiri. Over time, the powers have been delicately poised to enjoy the loyalty of the people.
It is this loyalty that the Olu must strive to maintain for the crown to continue to be relevant.
“On a final note, it is our humble advice that His Majesty be wary of perambulators and or praise singers on royal corridors scavenging for royal recognition coming with different negative stories about other Itsekiris.”
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