Speculations about the health status of
the traditional ruler of Warri Kingdom were on Saturday laid to rest as
the Itsekiri nation announced the death of Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu
of Warri, and announced Prince Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko as the successor
to the throne.
The Olu designate was also officially presented to the public.
A 90-day mourning period was also
declared as a traditional mark of respect to the departed 70-year-old
monarch who reigned for 28 years.
Within
this period, every adult male and female of the Itsekiri nation is
expected to have their wrappers tied upside down, just as there will be
no burial ceremony, drumming or any other form of party within the
specified period of mourning.
This was made known on Saturday at Ode-Itsekiri, popularly called the Big Warri,
Warri South Local Government Area, by the most senior member of the Olu
Advisory Council and the Ojomo of Warri Kingdom, Chief Tesigiweno Yahya
Pessu, after performing the required traditional rites.
Pessu performed the traditional rite of
smashing on the ground three times a substance tied in red cloth
symbolising the end of the era of Ogiame Atuwatse II. This was greeted
by several cannon shots fired into the air as mark of respect to the
late monarch according to the custom of the Itsekiris.
Speaking after the official presentation
of the Olu designate, Pessu said the reaction of the jubilant crowd
signified mass acceptance of Emiko.
Pessu said, “You can see the crowd
dancing. It is an evidence of acceptance. The significance of the rite I
performed is to tell the Itsekiri people the passing away of the king.
And when a king passes away, a new king is installed immediately.”
On the selection process, Mr. Edward
Ekpoko said the choice of Emiko as Olu designate was as a result of
non-qualification of the first son of the late monarch, Prince Shola.
This, he said, was largely due to the fact that his mother was neither
from Itsekiri nor Edo.
Chief Edwin Ereyitomi told journalists,
“The significance of today’s event is very clear. It is to clear the
rumour that is in circulation over the demise of the Olu of Warri, which
the Itsekiri nation has done today by letting the whole world know that
the Olu has joined his ancestors and to present his successor. So, this
is a process that we really followed. There were no disagreement
anywhere about a successor. The Itsekiri have a traditional way of doing
their thing and that we have done today.”
It was gathered that Itsekiri tradition
is clear on who becomes the Olu of Warri, which lucidly states that the
person’s mother must be either an Itsekiri or from Benin Kingdom before
he can be chosen.
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