Another round of crisis may resume in Warri Kingdom, Delta State, over the installation of Chief Oma Eyewuoma as the new Ologbotsere of the Kingdom by His Majesty, Ogiamé Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri.
Until his new title, Chief Eyewuoma was the Aboludero of Warri Kingdom.
But the embattled Ologbotsere, Chief Ayirimi Emami, in his reaction to the removal, said his insignia of office, beads and sword were intact and still with him as his ancestral heritage.
The Olu of Warri last Saturday had invited the Ologbotsere dynasty to Aghofen (Palace) with speculations that the Olu had resolved to reinstate Emami as Ologbotsere.
The Aghófen Hall was said to be filled to capacity as everyone was curious of the agenda of the meeting until the Ologbotsere was urged to submit his Ologbotsere regalia in exchange for a new title held by his late father, ‘Eyeku’ which he rejected.
Despite that Emami’s objection, the installation of a new Ologbotsere took place on Sunday at the Palace of the Olu with Palace Chiefs, the immediate-past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and other notable sons and daughters of Warri Kingdom in attendance.
It was gathered that after the installation of Chief Eyewuoma as the new Ologbotsere, His Majesty, Ogiamé Atuwatse III announced a new title to be conferred on Chief Emami who reportedly declined and walked out of the palace alongside many of Ologbotsere descendants.
Narrating the drama that ensued, Chief Emami said that his original beads and sword, authenticating him as the ‘Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom’ were still intact, despite the presentation of a bead and sword to the Olu of Warri.
He told the gathering in Warri, that the incident at the Olu palace, was nothing, but joy to him for many reasons, including a Biblical reference Papa Ayo Oritsejafor illustrated on Friday April 14, during the peace meeting at the palace, “when he said if the Devil knew that Jesus Christ would be celebrated, they wouldn’t have killed him.”
Chief Emami, who spoke in Itsekiri language, stated that: “Those that asked me to honour invitation of the Ogiame knew they wanted to kill me, but if I had not honoured the invitation, they would have said I do not want the blessings of Itsekiri.
“You guys should not worry yourselves, what wants blood, if you give it palm oil, it will not take it. Today is a day of joy for so many reasons. When they said the king sent for me, many said I should not go, some said I should go. He that is in me is greater.
“People that said I should honour the invitation are more than those that said I shouldn’t honour it. Those that advised me to go to the palace, said if I go, there will be peace in Itsekiri land and I hold issues concerning Itsekiri in high esteem.
“When he (the king) called me, he told me of the dream he had about Ikenwoli (the transited Olu of Warri) and what Ikenwoli did. Any time the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, meets me, he always advised me to go and see the Olu of Warri.
“He told me to forget about ancestors and go to the King, that was exactly what I did. Even Oba of Benin spoke about the issue.
“The wife of Ologbotsere is the eyes of Ologbotsere. My wife called me and advised that I should not carry my original beads and sword to the Palace today.
“These three beads; bead of Atuwaste II, my late father and that of Ikenwoli, are my inheritance, I did not buy them. Have you seen me with one bead before?”
For his part, spokesman of Ologbotsere descendants, Comrade Alex Eyengho, said: “What happened in the palace today was part of a script that has been written. We got premonition of the event that would play out, hence the bead and sword presented at the Palace were fake.
“It has been an ongoing script. Ologbotsere family is not stupid. The original beads and sword are intact. Once you give a title to someone, it is till death. You don’t take it back. For Ologbotsere title to be given, it must come from the family of Ologbotsere, on request from the king. Chief Ayirimi Emami remains the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom.”
Earlier, Atuwatse III at the palace in the presense of hundreds of sons and daughters of the Warri kingdom said that he was not interested in what would divide the Iwere nation.
Ogiame noted that he had had several dreams on the issues, hence the move to reconcile with the Ologbotsere family. He urged Emami to take the ‘Eyela’ title and continue to work in the interest of the Itsekiri nation which Emami declined.
Recall that the monarch had on October 5, 2021, announced the derobing of Chief Emami as the Ologbotsere of Warri at a ceremony held in his palace.
