Gabriel Eyewouma, this your post would have been highly welcomed if not for two issues you raised here that needs to be addressed properly.
Before I go into them, let me tell you as a matter of importance, that your father is my cousin whom I’ve known way back 1975 at Koko. As a youngster, I go on errand for your father during Xmas holidays. That’s the only period we used to see him, so once he comes to town, we always like to gather around him. He is the most generous among our elder brothers as at that time. My father is the owner of the hotel called Progress Inn, which shared fence with the oldest Cold Store in Koko Beach, and just a few minutes walking distance from your grandfather’s compound. Your father doesn’t missed coming to Koko every December because he is one of the moving pillar of Company Masquerades Dance, even before he became the Chairman after the late Chairman, Pa Etiwe was killed by Ijaws. Your Dad is my elder cousin and not my age group but both of us are at the same level of drop – down descension when counting from Ologbotsere Eyinmisan short for Eyinmisanren. In that case, you are my nephew in the lineage. I am saying all these for you to know the relationship between myself and your Dad. That I know your Dad very well is not in question, but what I want to address here is the two issues I mentioned.
- You said and I quote, “So let no one make any issue out of this matter by linking him (your father) to the public protest against Ogiame’s pronouncement.”
Now, let me clear your fears on this. As far as we, the Ologbotsere children and the Ogiame Ikenwoli did not accused your dad of such crime, whatever any other Itsekiri person says is of no consequential relevance. There’s nothing closed to such allegation against your Dad, and if there is, only the Ogiame Ikenwoli or the Ologbotsere family can investigate it. Even at that, the findings of the Ologbotsere family still needs the King’s ratification before it can hold water. Before I composed this comments, I consulted with some of my cousins and they said nothing in resemblance to it has come to the notice of the whole Ologbotsere family descendants. So forget that for now. - You said, “One issue however, that has remained burning in my mind and which I consider pertinent to talk about and put the record straight is what I seek to write about here. Also, to ensure that such untruth and misinformation about our culture and tradition is not passed on from generation to generation as if it is the truth.” Let me stop here.
This is where I come into this your post since I am the only person who posted that the Title have been sealed for only the descendants of the male branches of the Ologbotsere Tree. By the Branches, it means the first generation of Ologbotsere Eyinmisan children, which are, his direct children. Your father descended from Ajuwaoyiboyami (Iya) Branch and that accorded him a male descendant. Is Iya not a male Branch? If he is, then are his family not a male descendants? Why do you think the issue of female descendants, not having the right to contest for the Title is a way to edge out your father? Why do you bring such an issue to Facebook at this period? Let me tell you, if the Ologbotsere family descendants classified your father a member of female Branch, his name wouldn’t have been in the final list that was submitted to Ogiame. Your statement “My father reeled out his lineage before the larger Ologbotsere family, those who chose not to believe him knows why,” is absolutely not relevant here. You have done your father more arm than good with it. If anyone chose not to believe your father and the larger Ologbotsere family choose to believe him, and add his name to the final list, why stress yourself with all these?
Now, let me tell you another thing, when the decision was taken in Koko that only male branches descendants will henceforth contest for the Ologbotsere Title, which edged out my uncle from Iwereko-Olomu lineage for Late Chief Mayuku, I and your father were too young to enter such important meeting. Please ask him very well. Even if we had the chance to gatecrash the meeting, we were too young to make any acceptable suggestions talk more of contributing to the final decision. The Ogiame hasn’t actually pronounced the next Ologbotsere to Itsekiri People, but the Hawks that doesn’t want Itsekiri Nation to prosper, are neck bent to cause trouble. These are the same people that wanted to make trouble when the Late Ogiame Atuwatse wanted to give your father the Aboludero Title thinking it was the Ologbotsere Title. Why you see Chief Ayiri Emami name being more pronounced in the whole saga, is because these Hawks are more after him. It is not as if the Ogiame has actually chosen him, unless I’m not aware. Why I always attack these Hawks is because they think they can decide for the Ologbotsere family and the Ogiame Ikenwoli. But that is an illusion that emanates from Satanic Hallucination. So I will advise you not to campaign for your father because that is what I deduced from this your post. You didn’t campaign for him before we chose him and our Facebook posts will not influence the final decision of the Ogiame. And like you rightly portray, and that is what I have been telling anyone whether they accept or not, the Ogiame Ikenwoli decision is binding upon Itsekiri People worldwide. Who is not happy should go and jump into the Atlantic Ocean. Good you are from Iya family, since the Ogiame Ikenwoli instructed us to bring a fresh list, which of course does not exclude your father and Chief Ayiri, how many Iya family members have indicated interest for the Ologbotsere Title? Please tell us. We need to know. And don’t forget to show this my comments to your Dad.
