Growing concerns over unity in Delta State have prompted several influential leaders to implore Olu Of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and Itsekiri elders to intensify their efforts to rebuild trust in the region
The appeal, made by the Iwere Consultative Forum, a group of Warri natives of Itsekiri descent, was presented in an open letter to the monarch. The communication surfaced to journalists in the capital city, Abuja.
The leaders expressed their apprehensions over recent events in the region, specifically the installation and subsequent suspension of several chiefs in Warri. In a move last April that has raised eyebrows, Atuwatse III installed Chief Oma Eyewuoma as the new Ologbotsere of Warri, while Chief Ayiri Emami was still legally contesting his own suspension from the same position.
Emami’s suspension from his roles as Ologbotsere of Warri and Chairman of Olu Advisory Council was a byproduct of the controversy surrounding the selection of the current Olu of Warri, Tsola Emiko.
In a related incident, Prince Yemi Emiko, a prince of Warri, and Mene Brown, a respected elder, found themselves at odds over Brown’s assertion that princes should not be involved in managing affairs at the Olu palace and the Itsekiri Kingdom.
The Iwere Consultative Forum’s Chairman, Prince Clem Ade Omotoye, and Secretary, Prince Arubi Ajofotan, jointly signed the letter, expressing that these recent incidents are both regrettable and damaging to the Itsekiri nation’s reputation.
The leaders criticise the lack of sufficient consultations in the monarch’s actions, urging that the people’s interests be prioritized.
They question the role of the Olu’s traditional advisers and confidants, suggesting that the Ologbotsere issue could have been handled more sensitively, with greater respect for Itsekiri integrity.
The leaders stressed the urgent need to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in the kingdom, aiming to rectify real and perceived injustices.
They highlighted that the Olu, like other traditional rulers in Nigeria, does not enjoy special constitutional protection in the country’s democratic setting. They emphasized that his power is derived from and should be in service of the Itsekiri people.
Lastly, they caution the Olu against being influenced by those seeking royal recognition through divisive narratives, encouraging him to uphold the integrity of the Itsekiri nation.
SOURCE: The Guardian
IMAGE: Warri Kingdom
