The signs were manifestly clear to the blind and resoundingly loud to the deaf! Come July 25, 2017, Itsekiri people from all walks of life were going to occupy the palace of the Warri Monarch, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri, in protest against plans by the highly revered first class monarch to bestow Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue; the three highest Chieftaincy titles in Warri Kingdom on persons considered unfit by majority of the Itsekiri people.
As early as 6:00am on the D-day, youths of the kingdom in their numbers stormed the palace, forcing their way into the palatial palace premises of the 20th Warri Monarch. If anything, the protesters meant business and were very organized. After registering their presence to the monarch, they sealed up all the entry and exit points of the palace to prevent human and vehicular movements in and out of the palace. They thereafter stepped out of the palace to the main road on Ajamimogha and Ugbori to join hundreds if not thousands of other protesters comprising elderly women, men, young girls, boys and even children; all defying the early morning rain. The protest had started in earnest! The first in the one year and seven months of Ogiame Ikenwoli on the throne of his forefathers!
About three four hours into the protest, some very senior Chiefs of the palace led by Chiefs Yahaya Pessu, Isaac Jemide, Brown Mene, Charles Ikomi, Thomas Ereyitomi and about eight others engaged the protesters in a long-drawn dialogue at the open field opposite the Ugbori gate of the palace. The protesters led by Weyinmi Agateyiniro who is the factional President of the Itsekiri national youth body (INYC) presented their grievances and demands to the Olu of Warri through these Chiefs. The demands include the Itsekiri rejection of Chief Ayiri Emami as the Ologbotsere, Chief Johnson Atserunleghe as the Iyatsere and Mr. Gabriel Awala as the Uwangue of Warri Kingdom. They also wanted the leadership issues of the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC) and the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC) resolved in favour of the Austin Erubere (Gbokwa) faction and Weyinmi Agbateyiniro faction respectively. Finally, they want the monarch to caution his half younger brother, Prince Yemi Emiko, to stop undue interference in the affairs of the palace and kingdom generally.
On this note, the protesters allowed the Chiefs access into the palace while the protest continued. After about two hours of closed-door meeting with the Warri Monarch, the Chiefs resurfaced and called the protesters to order once again. They announced that the Olu of Warri has suspended his plan to confer the vacant title of Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) of Warri kingdom on Chief Ayiri Emami in response to the mass protest by Itsekiris who besieged his palace. Also suspended by the monarch were the conferment of the titles of Iyatsere on Chief Johnson Atserunleghe and Uwangue on Mr. Gabriel Awala. The protesters were further told to select about 20 of their leaders to meet with the Olu later the same day to resolve the other three issues. This was already at about 6:00pm. After some back and forth, 8:00pm the same day was agreed on by the parties for the protesters to return and meet with the Olu and his Chiefs.
At the return time of 8:00pm, Ogiame Ikenwoli demonstrated a mature leadership style in crisis management. He resolved all the issues in favor of the protesters. The Olu graciously listened to the voice of the Itsekiri people. He told representatives of the protesters that he has already sent words to the concerned families of the Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue that the Itsekiri people do not want the three men, and as such, names should be resubmitted to him after wider consultations by the respective families. He ruled that Mr. Austin Erubore (Gbokwa) should continue as the Chairman of IRDC but only for one tenure and on the condition that the case in court be removed. He also gave recognition and blessing to the Agbateyiniro leadership of INYC. However, on the issue of Prince Yemi Emiko, he told the protesters that Prince Yemi was only being attacked because of his undiluted loyalty to the palace and he as the Olu of Warri. He advised the protesters and Itsekiris generally to let Prince Yemi be.
Statements credited to Prince Yemi Emiko in reports of the protests in various mass media from the day after the protest further irked most Itsekiris and even the palace. Prince Yemi spoke as if he was doing so on behalf of the palace. His statements seem to blame the Delta State Government for sponsoring the protest. This did not go down well with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. His statement also manifestly defended the three names assigned to the top three Chieftaincy titles in Warri Kingdom. In fact, the palace had to react officially to put the records straight. Said the palace in a statement signed by Chief Emmanuel Tetsola, who is the Director of Palace Administration, Olu of Warri Palace: “His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli commends the peaceful disposition of all Itsekiri sons and daughters during the protest as no life was lost neither did anyone sustain any injury. In particular, His Majesty commends the professionalism displayed by the police, Navy, Army and other security agencies who were on ground on that fateful day. His Majesty also thanks the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, and members of the Delta State Security Council for their cooperation in ensuring the peaceful resolution of the issue.”
“His Majesty furthermore wishes to make it abundantly clear that he did not authorize any Press Statement issued in connection with the event by any person. Prince Yemi Emiko, who spoke on the issue, did so in his personal capacity and does not represent the stand and/or position of the Palace and His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli. His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri is committed to peace and development in Warri and Delta State and will always cooperate with His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State to achieve this.”
Earlier, Weyimi Agbateyinero, who presented a position paper before some ranking Chiefs of the kingdom said, “persons so nominated in the selection and nomination of Ologbotsere fall short of all known traditional standards and requirements paraded by previous occupants of such chieftaincies in terms of age, integrity, intellectual capability, status, etc. The issues surrounding the selection of Iyasere and Uwangue titles did not follow all known traditional procedures and processes. Nominees for the Iyasere and Uwangue titles also lack the requirements for such exalted chieftaincy titles.”
Meanwhile, Ugbarajo-Omaja, a gathering of Itsekiri masses, some days after the protest, restated its rejection of the alleged attempt to impose an unwanted candidate, Chief Ayiri Emami, as Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) of Warri by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli. At a meeting in Warri which was a continuation of the July 25, 2017, revolt had in attendance Chief Edward Ekpoko, Chairman, Itsekiri Leaders of Thoughts, ILoT, as well as Sir Amorighoye Sunny Mene, ILoT, Secretary. Also in attendance were Prof. Tony Afejuku, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, Prof. Omatseye J.N, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, Sir Edward Kanu Gbragada, Dr. Alex Ideh, Godwin Okotie, Ben Eburajolo, Pa Godfrey Buwa, Dr. Jackson O. Ireyefoju, Engr. Victor Wood, and Weyimi Agbateyinero among others.
The meeting was provoked by the thinking that the Olu’s suspension of the intended conferment of the title on Ayiri may not be the end of the matter. “We met in order to avoid a repeat of the situation. Those issues are still agitating Itsekiri people, there have been rumours, allegations, and counter-allegations. People still express fears and worry that what happened the other time might still happen. To avoid that sort of embarrassment, the Itsekiri General Assembly, called Ugbarajo-Omaja, gathered to look at all these issues. The details of the resolutions will be communicated to His Majesty and the families concerned. We will not be making any categorical statement until we have met with His Majesty. There was a resolve to let the Olu know that the person he intended conferring the Ologbotsere title on was not deserving or qualified to hold such a title. The meeting also charted a course on how to peacefully pick a capable, popular candidate from the Ologbotsere family to fill the vacant title while also stressing that the same should apply to the Iyatsere and Uwangue titles,” a source at the meeting told newsmen. The forum agreed to present a formal communiqué to the monarch before its next meeting (See page 31 for the Communiqué).
There was a twist however, when one of the attendees of the meeting, Dr. Ireyefoju told newsmen less than 48 hours after the meeting that the protest against the Olu of Warri and Chief Ayiri Emami was procedurally wrong and morally unfair. “I was invited and had to attend the gathering, first to question the term Omajaja as the group identity for some of those invited. I have been in court for sometime, seeking to expunge that word ‘Omajaja’ from Itsekiri lexicon for lacking any bearing or context in any statute governing us as a people. On the Chieftaincy controversy, I have no business joining issues with whoever has anything against Ayiri as a person. I am not by any means saying he must be chosen. My worry is whether those agitating against his choice as Ologbotsere are justified or even have the right to. In the over five century existence of the Itsekiri monarchy, only three Ologbotseres have been installed and the common procedure is that the descendants of Ologbotsere reserve the right to choose and recommend who they want to the Olu. It has never been the right of the general Itsekiri masses to choose who becomes Ologbotsere. The question the protesters have refused to answer is, if Ayiri was chosen by a participatory committee of the descendants of Ologbotsere and the Olu decided to install him based on that due process, why are those who should not be part of that process agitating? It beats my imagination,” Dr. Ireyefoju lamented.
However, another attendee, Prof. Tony Afejuku, flayed Dr. Ireyefoju’s opposition to some resolutions of the August 11 meeting of Ugbarajo Omaja, a gathering of Itsekiri masses to restate the rejection of Chief Ayiri Emami as Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom in Delta State. Afejuku said: “All who spoke at the said gathering exercised their right of free speech/expression. He is entitled to his opinion, but at no time did Ireyefoju say what was attributed to him in the media. His major contribution was objection to the name of the gathering, which was upheld and accordingly corrected to read ‘Ugbarajo Omaja’ as opposed ‘Ugbarajo Omajaja’. He never expressed any contrary position to the popular ones contained in the concluding communiqué. Did our respected elder who occupied the high table at the gathering hide a snake somewhere in his flowing robe that day?” Afejuku queried.
On its part, the Alpha May Club in a letter to the Warri monarch dated July 25, 2017 (the very day of the protest) and personally hand-delivered to him same day, expressed the need for the three Chieftaincy titles “to be filled by political persons of reasonable age, very high integrity, deep knowledge of Itsekiri and general matters, the attainment of sound considerable education, good bearing and temperance, etc, but certainly NOT persons who are given to constant frivolities or such like tendencies.”
“We wish to humbly remind your Majesty that the Ologbotsere will very often be Baba’s alter ego and spokesman and therefore needs to be an iconic representation of the Crown and a role model not just for Itsekiri but for the world at large. Further, such a person must be able to bring respect to the Warri Royal Kingdom and Monarchy by commanding respect among other people, high or low. Certainly, there are persons in the relevant families who fit this bill. We urge Ogiame to consider our counsel seriously and act accordingly in order to avoid discord and strife in the land and for the overall interest of the Itsekiri,” the club further stated in the letter.
Perhaps in an attempt to set the record straight, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli declared that he did not disqualify any of the persons nominated for the conferment of Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue chieftaincy titles as being peddled, even as he said he was determined more than ever before to confer the prestigious Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) title to only a qualified candidate of his choice as nominated by the families provided the person meets four critical conditions. According to the Olu, such nominees must be truly loyal, bold, vibrant and have the pain of the Itsekiri nation at heart. He said he does not want a chicken-hearted and lame-duck Prime Minister who cannot hold his own and would bolt away at the slightest sign of trouble and charged the families concerned to nominate the desired Ologbotsere that meets his criteria, for him and the and entire kingdom to function effectively.
The Warri monarch made this disclosure during an enlarged meeting with all Itsekiri community heads, Trust and Youth leaders including prominent sons and daughters of Iwereland at his palace. The meeting came some days after the meeting of the Ugbarajo Omaja and the day its leadership was to officially present their communiqué to the Olu.
Surrounded by members of the Warri Council of Chiefs, Ogiame Ikenwoli stated that the Uwangue and Iyatsere must also be trusted and capable persons at all times as he would not accept persons not fit to discharge their duties as at when due, noting that “charisma or no charisma,” his conditions must be met by the nominating families as the current socio-political milieu deserves. He gave the families till the end of October 2017 to get back to him with their respective lists of nominees for Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue, even as he further disclosed that he was set to confer some other chieftaincy titles to some persons in the month of September 2017.
According to the Warri monarch, most rumors concerning his actions are fatal lies from the pit of hell that are designed to malign his person and position and paint him in bad light, even as he tasked Itsekiris to always verify stories from the palace to ascertain the truth of any matter.
He disclosed that the Chevron –created Itsekiri Regional Development Council, IRDC, would soonest resume work so that all the benefits accruing to the benefiting communities gets to them henceforth as the warring factions are in the process of withdrawing all their cases from the court even as he restated that they have just one term to serve in office.
While stating that the option of balloting to choose a candidate amongst others was only to ensure that he was not unduly accused of bias and favoritism, the Olu of Warri added that all he desired is the common good of his subjects and urged them to accord him the necessary support to move the Itsekiri nation forward and desist from callous acts capable of ruining the good fortunes of sons and daughters of Iwereland.
Though the protests was against the plan to confer the Chieftaincy titles of Ologbotsere, Iyatsere and Uwangue on Chief Ayir Emami, Chief Johnson Atserunleghe and Mr. Gabriel Awala respectively, the protest seem to be strongest against Chief Ayiri and Chief Johnson for the Ologbotsere and Iyatsere spots respectively. This perhaps in a media chat after the meeting, Secretary-General of the Ologbotsere family, Mr. William Anukun, said, “His Majesty, the Olu of Warri earlier gave the charge that all aggrieved persons should direct their concerns to us even since July 25, 2017, following the protest. Today, no one has come forth to raise any issue. It speaks to the fact that those raising issues were aware that we followed due process. All Itsekiris know that picking Ologbotsere is not every Itsekiri’s responsibility. The rigours that went into the selection of Chief Ayiri are probably the most painstaking in the history of selecting an Ologbotsere. After arriving at the final candidate, Pa Higson Jofotan Oporokun, current head of Ologbotsere family, going the extra mile, insisted that all heads of the 12 families sign the final nomination document. However, we have heard of the Olu. We are waiting for the dissenting voices to come up and we see how it goes but I doubt if that will change things.”
Reacting swiftly to this claim, Prof. Tony Afejuku, a frontline member of the Ugbarajo Omaja who spoke on behalf of the body, totally rejected totally rejected what he described as Anukun’s specious claim to any rigour or iota of due process in the nomination of Chief Ayiri Emami as a would-be Ologbotsere of the great and mighty Warri kingdom.
“In fact, Mr. Anukun’s statement is not only defectively specious but is also patently false. If this is not so, why has our truth-and-justice-loving monarch referred the matter of the selection of our kingdom’s next Ologbotsere back to the family in order to make room for unarguably broad interaction for the purpose of carrying everybody along? Why has our peace-loving monarch, who rightly cherishes a transparent, non-discriminatory process that would give rise to the production of a broadly acceptable candidate referred the matter back to the family?” Prof. Afejuku asked.
Similarly, while rejecting Chief Johnson Atseleghe as the proposed Iyatsere of Warri kingdom, the Iyatsere Descendants of Warri Kingdom in an advertorial at page 16 of Vanguard newspapers of Wednesday, August 23, 2017, insisted that Chief Johnson was an imposition against majority opinion of family members.
“Without mincing words, we wish to be unequivocally clear and be understood that the Iyatsere Descendants completely themselves from the position of the palace Chief and self-styled Olori Ebi who are regrouping to re-present Chief Johnson Atseleghe against the popular opinion of Iyatsere descendants and the Itsekiri nation at large. The new move is counterproductive and it is a slap on the face of the palace and the entire Itsekiri nation. We the Iyatsere descendants hereby reiterate that of the three names earlier forwarded to the palace for the enviable Iyatsere Chieftaincy title of which one was rejected, in the person of Chief Johnson Atseleghe by the entire Itsekiri nation, the other two should be considered. The monarch could in his wisdom choose from the other two nominees already submitted to his (i.e. Mr. Evans Orighomisan Omatsoguwa and Barr. Misan Ukubeyinje). Your Majesty, we will, if necessary, at your request bring before you the two Itsekiri gentlemen of Iyatsere descendants,” the advertorial stated.
