WARRI – The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has visited Olu Of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, in his place in Warri, Warri South Council Area of Delta State.
Dr. Fayemi expressed delight during the visit, saying the Olu has Indeed made Nigeria’s hope to come alive with his speech during the Coronation which held amidst pomp on August ,21st. The governor said the speech has made Nigeria and particularly, the Warri kingdom, the toast of the global community.
“It is my pleasure and delight to be here before you. On behalf of the Nigerian Governors, the 35 of us , apart from myself here, you have received quite a number of them since two weeks.
“Notably the governor of Kebbi, Delta State Governor has been here for the thanks giving; as governors representing the entire federation, we want to formally present ourselves here to congratulate you and the entire Warri kingdom for God’s presence in this kingdom.
“All over the world we have been enthused, honoured as a people. You re-invented Nigeria in the eyes of the world .
“For those of us who are Omoluabi from the roots we thank God for your coronation. It was most organised .
“We know that it is a sign of what is ahead of us, a sign of the possibilities in our nation. It is a sign that whatever the challenges is, that we may be going through,: the valleys, hills, the meandering lines, what is clear is that this nation is on the path to positive development.
“Your ascension to the throne is not just an indication of positive development to happen in the kingdom, it is a positive signal that the best is yet to come in our country. And that in your reign all our losses, pride of place as a country will be restored .
“The peace, the prosperity, development we are all yearning for as a people will come upon us .
“The insecurity in the land will become a thing of the past. We know that this is history in the making. You are not just destined to play this critical role, it is God ordained.
“And on behalf of all my colleagues that have sent me here even after I spoke on the phone with Your Majesty, I want to reassure you that we will cooperate with this kingdom in whatever way you want us to work with your stool, right from our colleague in Delta state. Just call on us, we will support you and do whatever is necessary for this country to progress and this kingdom is respected among the committees of kingdoms in the country.
“In Ekiti, royalty is very important. As Yoruba people with very strong links to the Itsekiri we see this as our own celebrations. And I pray that this time will be good times, God has earmarked this kingdom for great good that will spread across the country. And your time shall be remembered for the positive in many ways.
Responding, His Majesty, Ogiame, Atuwatse III, expressed appreciation to the governor for his goodwill and pray for peace in Iwere land and Nigeria at large.
“When we wrote our speech for coronation we focused on Itsekiri. I say that this thing God has done, I humbly submit myself in service to the Federal republic of Nigeria and the government.
“We said we were going to redefine the roles of the Olu of Warri. Were we can put our heads together with government , the legislators to come up with creative ways to build our people from the grassroots, our women, we want to help the people. We want to create services that will improve not just Warri kingdom but the country”.
Meanwhile, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, on Saturday formally confirmed seven additional traditional chiefs in Itsekiriland in continuation of the revalidation exercise.
The exercise followed an earlier public notice by the monarch dissolving the Council and other committees in the Kingdom.
The event took place at Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people.
Those who had their chieftaincies revalidated at the ceremony on Saturday included Chief Isaac Jemide (Oshodin); Chief Sunday Rone (Obazuaye); Chief (Sir) P. D. Yalaju (Kenekuniraro); Chief Francis Omatseye (Edigbe); Chief (Engr.) Oma Eyewuoma (Aboludero); Chief (Dr.) Mark Erumi (Chaplin) and Chief Richmond McGray (Oritseboluwo).
All the chiefs pledged their moral and financial support for the socioeconomic agenda of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III to transform Warri kingdom.
One of the them, Chief Richmond McGray, the Oritseboluwo of Warri Kingdom, who is a United Kingdom based industrialist acknowledged the desirability of the revalidation/confirmation exercise noting that “it affords the king to know his inherited chiefs and familiarize himself with them in actualizing his progressive agenda”.
Chief McGray enjoined well-meaning Itsekiris, home and abroad, to partner His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, through establishment of cottage industries to absolve the teeming unemployed graduates, thus supporting the monarch in actualizing his noble goal of mobilizing empowerment for women and youths in the kingdom.
The chieftaincy revalidation/confirmation exercise which has been scheduled in batches continues on Monday.
