It is a manifest fact that majority of the Ologbotsere family and Itsekiris generally do not want a Chief Ayiri to become the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom for several reasons. The same applies to Chief Johnson Atseleghe for the Iyatsere title. But seemingly not rattled by this opposition, Chief Ayiri Emami continues to push on, keeping his eyes on the ball. But first, what exactly is the big deal about becoming the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom? The 12 children of Ologbotsere Eyinmisanren are today the 12 families/gates that make up the Ologbotsere Descendants. These 12 children in no particular order are: Keka (m), Egbueju (m), Iya (m), Utasuwa (m), Uwankun, who became the Uwangue (m), Ameren (f), Iweroko (f), Elo (f), Omagene (m), Edogiere, the Kantu community link (m), Menokanren (m) and Eyiogodeaghan (f). Any aspiring Ologbotsere must be able to trace himself to at least one of these 12 families/gates.
So, what’s this whole hullabaloo about? A palace Chief wondered why Itsekiris are making so much noise about these three titles, which he described as traditional titles. “The current Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli made it clear to the whole world after his coronation as the 20th Warri monarch that he was going to be a true traditional ruler ready to do all the traditional things that comes with the throne. This is quite different from the immediate past Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, CON who has since joined his ancestors. Atuwatse II made it clear that he was a born again Christian monarch and was not keen on doing traditional things expected of the throne. That was why he never betowed Ologbotsere title on anybody during his over 28 years reign. In fact, at a time, he had no Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue; three key traditional titles in Warri Kingdom. But Ogiame Ikenwoli is a core traditionalist and for him to function well, he needs these three vacant titles to be occupied urgently by those he can trust. These are the foremost titled Chiefs that play critical roles during traditional rites required of an Olu of Warri. The relevance of the Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue are only on traditional matters. It is not as if they are superior to other Chieftaincy titles the way our people are seeing things presently. Occupants of these titles need not have academic degrees to function in their traditional roles. The most important thing is that the Olu must have absolute confidence and trust in those occupying these three Chieftaincy offices. At the traditional level, they are the closest to him in terms of what he eats, what he drinks and what he wears. No one would accommodate someone he does not trust in such sensitive positions. The only other edge the Ologbotsere perhaps have is that he presides over the meetings of the Warri Council of Chiefs. The Ologbotsere does not necessarily have to be the spokesman of Warri Kingdom. The Olu can anoint any other Chief for that specific task. So really, I don’t see why people are making so much noise about these titles,” the palace Chief told this magazine on the condition of anonymity.
Investigation by Warri Mirror shows that the Ologbotsere Descendants at a general meeting resolved to zone the vacant Ologbotsere title to the Iya family/gate. Both Ojoye Oma Eyewuoma and Chief Ayiri Emami whose names were finally submitted to the Olu of Warri after thorough screening, are from the Iya family. The Olu himself told Itsekiris that when he received the names of the two nominees from the Ologbotsere Descendants, he pleaded with them to by themselves pick one out of the two and send the name to him within one week. However, the family took just less than an hour and came back with the name of Chief Ayiri Emami as their final choice for the Ologbotsere title. As stated earlier, three nominees were also submitted to the Olu in the case of the Iyatsere title from which he selected Chief Johnson. In fact, it was only the Uwangue title that had just one nominee in the person of Mr. Gabriel Awala. An unverified source however told us that Chief Ayiri Emami who hopes to secure the very powerful Uwangue descendants’ support through that move is sponsoring Mr. Awala financially. Mr. Awala is the current Treasurer of the Ologotsere Descendants. So, on the basis of these nominations, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri announced to his Chiefs and other critical stakeholders his decision to bestow the titles of Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue of Chief Ayiri Emami, Chief Johnson Atseleghe and Mr. Gabriel Awala respectively. In fact, Chief Johnson and Mr. Awala had gone for the usual “Thank you visit” to Ogiame Ikenwoli for selecting them. Chief Ayiri was to do the same thing on July 27, 2017 before the protesters struck on July 25, 2017, therefore changing the conversation completely. On the day of the protest in Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami was far away in Abuja allegedly under police detention for matters relating to a N2.1 billion belonging to the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC) where he was the immediate past Chairman. Robinson Ariyo, a lawyer and very close ally of Chief Ayiri Emami, was however on hand in Abuja to secure his bail. Today, Mr. Ariyo is one of the six persons Ogiame Ikenwoli would confer other Chieftaincy titles on before the end of September 2017. Informed but unconfirmed sources claimed that Chief Ayiri recommended Mr. Ariyo to the Olu.
Incidentally, those initially opposed to Chief Ayiri becoming the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom are his friends and co member of what the Itsekiri call the “12 Disciples.” These persons however have divergent interests for organizing the protest. These include but are not limited to the struggle for the control of IRDC and INYC. This perhaps explains why most of them seem to have withdrawn their opposition to Chief Ayiri since the Olu has given to them what they really want (IRDC and INYC). But then, a few of members of this caba in Itsekiriland (12 Disciples) are still bent on stopping Chief Ayiri from becoming the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom. According to informed sources, these include the likes of Hon Daniel Reyenieju, Hon David Tonwe, Mr. Mofe Pirah, Hon Michael Diden (Ejele) and one or two others. This perhaps explains the rumour making the rounds that former Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is said to favour Chief Ayiri Emami becoming the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, has put machinery in place to call a meeting of the 12 Disciples who all used to be his foot soldiers. He was said to have held a pre meeting with Hon Ejele. For Dr. Uduaghan, it is better for one of the 12 Disciples to get the strategic Ologbotsere title than for a complete “outsider to the system” to get it. He seems to have succeeded in convincing Ejele in this regard because Ejele in turn is presently trying to convince hardliners like Hon David Tonwe, Hon Daniel Reyenieju and Mr. Mofe Pirah and a few others ahead of the meeting which is scheduled for late September 2017. Request to get Dr. Uduaghan’s response to this did not yield result, as he did not respond to a message sent to him in that regard until this magazine went to press. Meanwhile, we gathered that the hardliners are prepared to tell Uduaghan no to his face if and when the meeting holds.
A source also told this magazine that Itsekiris should not be surprised if at the end of the day members of this cabal who are currently opposed to Chief Ayiri may just do a 360 degrees U-turn to back Ayiri. Already, the controversial and subject of litigation/police investigation N2.1 billion IRDC fund is being dangled as a carrot to the hardliners. How far they would go with this is left to be seen. It is also left to be seen if those the 12 Disciples call their boys and foot soldiers will stick with them or pitch their tents with the majority Itsekiri interest. But one thing is certain, while opposition within the minority cabal in Itsekiriland is thinning out; the opposition among the majority masses is swelling by the day. One of such very strong opposition voices vowed that should Chiefs Ayiri and Johnson be made Ologbotsere and Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom respectively, the kingdom will never know peace because an open-ended mother of all protests in Warri Kingdom would commence immediately. This, according to him may just be the beginning of the splitting of the Warri Kingdom into several kingdoms where major Itsekiri communities would have their own kings with proper Staff of Office given to them by Government, particularly those communities that existed before the advent of Prince Ginuwa in 1480 as the first Olu of Warri.
This whole development has also divided the palace Chiefs, particularly the ranking ones. A Chief who confided in this magazine stated that if for any reason Chief Ayiri particularly is bestowed with the Ologbotsere title, most of the senior Chiefs would stay away from the palace with some even threatening to return their Chieftaincy neck and hand beads to the monarch. “Perhaps the palace will then be populated by those made Chiefs by Ogiame Ikenwoli and a few younger ones once Ogiame Atuwatse II, CON made Chiefs. As part of the fall out of the protest, the Ojomo of Warri Kingdom, Chief Yahaya Pessu, reportedly left the palace and relocated to his base in Benin. He was said to have alleged that Chief Ayiri’s boys were threatening his life on a constant basis after the protest. However, he is back to the palace now after intervention, an appeal made to him by some Chiefs. While he was away, Ogiame Ikenwoli appointed Chief Charles Ikomi to act in his place.
Will the Ologbotsere family resubmit the names of Ojoye Oma Eyewuoma and Chief Ayiri? Will the Iyatsere family stick to the same three nominees earlier submitted to Ogiame? Will the Uwangue family stick with Mr. Gabriel Awala as the sole nominee? For now, as minutes roll into hours, hours into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months, the Itsekiri people await the nominees that would be resubmitted by the respective families of Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue for consideration by His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri. Going forward, the final selection of the Warri monarch will determine the shape and form Warri Kingdom shall take thereafter.
