Warri – His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri, has dissolved all traditional council, committees, sub-committees in Itsekiri land.
The new Olu who was crowned on August 21, 2021, at Ode Itsekiri , the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people said a revalidation and confirmation exercise will commence September 2, 2021.
The statement from the office of the first class monarch dated September 1 with the seal of the office of the Olu, cited Section 25 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law Capt. 2, Law of Delta State of Nigeria, 2008, to back his decision. It reads,
“I, Atuwatse Ogiame III, hereby, announce, for the information of the general public, the Delta State government and particularly, the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Committees, the dissolution of all Traditional Councils, Committees, Sub-committees and the scheduled exercise of revalidation/confirmation effective from 2nd day of September 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Warri Council of Chiefs, the Olu-in-Council, all standing adhoc and Sub-committees are dissolved forthwith. The mandatory revalidation/confirmation of Chieftaincy titles shall commence on the 2nd day of September, 2021.
“The timetable for the revalidation and confirmation exercise shall be made available at the Palace Secretariat from the 1st day of September, 2021 and the process of registration of all chieftaincy titles with the prescribed authority in accordance with section 25 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law (supra) shall follow immediately after the revalidation and confirmation exercise”, the notice stated.
Nigerian Observer gathered that it is a usual traditional practice in Iwere land after a new Olu has been crowned.
Confirming the development, both the Egogo of Warri kingdom, Chief Robinson Ariyo and Ojoye-Oyisan ,Chief Brown Mene described it as normal.
They said, all chiefs cease to be chiefs on the day an Olu-designate is crowned Olu of Warri, adding that they must all return their chieftaincy regalia to the palace for reconfirmation.
“You see, there’s a unique thing about the Itsekiri. I’m not sure I’m going to be a Chief as soon as the new king is crowned because the tradition and customs demand that all the chiefs must return their beads, swords, everything and the new Olu now decides the title he wants for you; His Majesty decides who and who form his new cabinet as it were.”
