The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought,
ILoT, yesterday, asked the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, to renounce his
new edict, rejecting the ‘Ogiame’ title of the Warri monarch.
The leaders in a statement by their
Chairman, Pa J.O.S Ayomike and Chief Isaac Jemide, said Ogiame was
synonymous with Olu (kingship) of Warri Kingdom and if wiped out, it would mean
the Olu of Warri has been terminated.
Other leaders who signed the
statement included the Secretary, Edward Ekpoko, A.S. Mene, O.P. Edodo, Prof.
Nesin Omatseye, Julius Otiri, Tony Ede, J.E. Agbejule and Mr. D.O.
Anomuogharan.
According to them, after due
consultation with relevant stakeholders in Iwereland, the Itsekiri people want
this new order renounced.
The statement said, “We, therefore, advise the
Olu of Warri to act accordingly.”
“Ogiame has been the unchanged name
of the Warri monarch since its creation in 1480 and Atuwatse 11, the name of
the reign that began in 1987. If the former is abolished, the monarchy
would have been extinguished and if Atuwatse 11 ceases to be Ogiame, his reign
as the Warri monarch would have expired. Neither is possible.”
The leaders said that it was well
-known documented historical fact that Christianity began in Warri/Benin region
in the early 16th century and about eight Olus of the 19 Olus got baptised as
Christians, noting that Itsekiri as a nation cannot be said to have covenant
with Umalokun, as the word Ogiame only means king or ruler of the region so
founded.
They re-stated that religion was a
personal matter and no one can stop the Olu from being a devout Christian, just
as he too, cannot also stop or condemn others practising their religion, adding
that the new order proclaimed by Atuwatse 11 was legally not binding on
anybody.
They maintained that it was
unfortunate that the Olu thought that his people worship or sing anthem of
worship to him and his ancestors, adding that the subjects deeply respect and
honour the Oluship as an institution.
The stage for an epic battle in Iwere
(Warri) kingdom, Delta State, was set, yesterday, following the rebuff of the
entreaties of palace chiefs by the Olu of Warri to withdraw his controversial
September 4, proclamation.
The palace chiefs, led by the Igba of
Warri kingdom, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, had mounted pressure on the
monarch, in the last few days, to revoke his ‘New Order”,
renouncing the Ogiame title, borne by past Itsekiri kings, including him,
in the past 500 years.
The chiefs, acting on behalf of
Itsekiri people, who were taken aback by the proclamation of their revered
monarch, had also asked him to recant his rejection of the age-long custom of
the people, which he (Olu) described as ungodly, among other things.
But, the Olu stuck to his guns,
saying that as royal priest of God, placed by God as a king over His people, he
would neither serve inferior gods nor lead God’s children to serve the gods of
sea, land and sky.
His strong-willed resistance
infuriated Itsekiri chiefs, who, rising from another meeting, yesterday,
insisted on withdrawal of the edict, saying he could not use force to
coerce the people.
With the latest development,
agitators from different parts of Itsekiri land, whose siege to the palace
entered the third day, yesterday, have advised the monarch to abdicate the
throne in his interest if he was not prepared to abide by the customs and
tradition of the people.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had on
Sunday urged the agitators to give him two days to sort out the matter with the
monarch, but at press time, yesterday, it was not sure the Olu of Warri has
changed his position.
The palace chiefs, led by Chief Rita
Lori-Ogbebor, also pleaded with the agitators on Sunday to give them 48 hours
to address the monarch on the cause of disagreement and get back to them.
By Monday morning, there was no green
light from the monarch and opposition against him was swelling by the day.
The 48 hours requested by the
governor and chiefs respectively expires today (Tuesday), but the chiefs
scheduled a meeting at 12.00 pm, yesterday, to further deliberate on the
impasse.
Chief Lori-Ogbebor briefed the
agitators at the end of the meeting on the stand of the chiefs. It was not
clear the last-minute strategy Governor Uduaghan has adopted to persuade the
Olu to listen to his subjects.
She said the Itsekiri monarch was
being deceived by a few power seeking individuals with hidden agenda, who had
abandoned him in the heat of the unwarranted and unacceptable declaration
allegedly made by the monarch renouncing his traditional appellation of
“Ogiame”, which engendered protest from the length and breadth of the Itsekiri
nation.
In a statement signed by 22 of the
palace chiefs present and read by her, they said they have nothing
to do with any deity, noting that in Warri Kingdom, there were
Christians, Muslims and pagans to the extent that the Olu appointed an Itsekiri
as a Chaplain for the Kingdom.
They stated: “The truth of the whole
scenario is that a few selfish and power seeking individuals with hidden agenda
masterminded the crafting of this said edict. Now that the game is up, the
authors have abandoned the monarch and gone into hiding.
“The handwriting on the wall is now clear that
the monarch has been deceived and consequently the Olu should follow the path
of honour and withdraw the declaration. Thereafter he will settle down to reign
as a dedicated missionary and whosoever may become converted.
“To use force or law or edict will be
counterproductive”, they warned.
Itsekiri women protest today
Meanwhile, Itsekiri women will today
troop out in their numbers to the palace to protest the alleged change of the
Ogiame title by His Majesty, Atuwatse 11, the Olu of Warri to yet an
unannounced name.
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Leaders are instituted by God. Rebellion to leaders is a rebellion to God. The only thing constant in life is change.
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