Warri – There is relative calm in the Warri kingdom following the installation of new Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Oma Eyewuoma who was before the now the Aboludero of Warri kingdom.
The installation took place at the Aghofen Palace of the Olu Warri.
Meanwhile, erstwhile Ologbotsere, Chief Ayirimi Emami, in his earlier reaction before the installation, said his insignia of office – beads and sword – are intact and still with him as his ancestral heritage.
This followed an earlier summon by the Olu of Warri of the Ologbotsere dynasty to Aghofen (Palace) on Saturday, where Chief Emami was, as it were, urged to submit his Ologbotsere regalia in exchange for a new title held by his late father which the former rejected.
The installation ceremony took place earlier 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.
The Aghófen Hall was filled to capacity as there was curiosity in the kingdom concerning the agenda of the meeting.
Rumour had earlier had it that the Olu had a meeting on Saturday with Chief Emami and there were speculations after the meeting that the Olu had resolved to reinstate him as Ologbotsere.
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.
“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.
“Anytime 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?”
Earlier, Atuwatse 111 at the palace, before 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 had urged Emami to take the ‘Eyela’ title and continue to work in the interest of the Itsekiri nation which Emami had declined.
The monarch, in a long speech during the installation of the new Ologbotsere, emphasised his superiority as king over Iwereland, disclosing that he understood from series of dreams he had had that Emami should bear his father’s title.
“Ogiame does not have an enemy”, he said, “the beads on the neck of our chiefs are properties of Ogiame.
The title that all our chiefs bear are at the prerogative of Ogiame.
As far as Warri kingdom is concerned, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.
“True reconciliation will not be forced on Ogiame. There is no son or daughter of Itsekiri that will hold this throne to ransom and so the terms of reconciliation will be determined by Ogiame.
“The reason we are doing this publicly is a divine one. I have struggled, resisted trying to come down and be vulnerable before my people. It is not an easy thing to do,” he asserted.
Recall that the monarch had, on October 5, 2021, announced the disrobing of the (then) embattled Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Emami at a ceremony held in his palace.
The pronouncement had since put an abrupt end to Ayiri’s reign as Ologbotsere in Warri Kingdom, a situation that has not gone down well with most members of the Ologbotsere dynasty.
