SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, (THEWILL) – The embattled Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, has been asked to rescind his controversial declaration or abdicate the throne.
Itsekiri elders and leaders handed down the verdict to him on Monday after meeting for several hours to find ways of resolving the lingering protest and siege to his palace.
The verdict of the leaders of the Itsekiri nation came five days after thousands of youths and women laid siege to the Olu’s palace (Aghofen), Ugbori located in Ajamimogha area of Warri to protest the declaration of the monarch titled; “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom”.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, had a day earlier, met with the Olu and others stakeholders to find ways of resolving the crisis.
Uduaghan, who had to cut short his trip in Abuja to intervene in the crisis, on Sunday, pleaded with thousands of protesters who barricaded the Olu’s palace to exercise restraint, assuring that their grouses were being addressed.
However, the leaders who have been holding deliberations with princes and princesses of the Warri Kingdom, critical stakeholders in the land including the monarch, on Monday addressed the people around 5pm after a heated deliberations where they made their position known.
They were unanimous in their decision that the monarch should rescind his declaration or be ready for the worst.
In a position paper obtained by THEWILL, the Itsekiri leaders under the auspices of Itsekiri Legacy Rebirth, a prominent Itsekiri elders/leaders opinion group, dissociated themselves from the contentious declaration, saying it is not binding on anybody in the land.
The position paper, which was read to a mammoth crowd of protesters at the monarch’s palace on the fourth day of the protest, was jointly signed by Pa J. O.S Ayomike, Chief Isreal O. Jemide, Barr. Edward Ekpoko, J.E Agbejule, Amorighoye Mene, Barr. D.O Anomuoghanran, Chief O.P Edodo, Tony Ede, Prof. Nesin Omatseye, Julius Otiri, Hon Patrick Fregene, Dr Ibe, Dr Felix Ideh, Chief Walter Odeli ,among others.
The document which was read to the angry mob by Dr Alex Ideh maintained that the monarch neither consulted with Itsekiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, Itsekiri Ruling Houses nor critical stakeholders in the land before making his declaration.
They maintained also that the monarch’s Christian beliefs are purely personal to him and can therefore neither be decreed for the entire Itsekiri nation nor be used to obliterate Itsekiri rich culture and traditions.
The paper also stated that Ogiame Atuwatse II was well aware of the custom of his people, the name of the monarchial title as well as the importance of the Itsekiri anthem before his ascension of the throne.
Specifically, they said the Government Gazette published and promulgated at the coronation of the monarch on 2nd May, 1987 referred to the title of the Olu of Warri as Ogiame Atuwatse II, saying so shall it be.
They said issues raised by the monarch in the controversial declaration touched on the fundamental of Itsekiri monarchial history which dates back to over five centuries ago.
This is coming as the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, another formidable social/culture group of the Itsekiri nation, headed by J.O.S Ayomike, in a statement, said Ogiame has been the unchanged name of the Warri monarch since its creation in 1480 and Atuwatse II, the name of the reign that began in 1987.
“If the former is abolished, the monarchy would have been extinguished and if Atuwatse II ceases to be Ogiame, his reign as the Warri monarch would have expired,” the leaders declared.
They maintained that the claims by the Olu that the Itsekiri religion is fetish and that the Iteskiri people are non-Christian, was a misrepresentation of well-known documented historical fact that Christianity began in Warri/Benin region in early 16th century.
They said that about eight of 19 Olus got baptised as Christian and, as such, the Itsekiri nation cannot be said to have covenant with “Umalokun” (goddess of the sea).
Though agreeing that a pocket of people may have had covenant with the “Umalokun”, the leaders insisted that everyone has the freedom of worship as enshrined in the Nigeria constitution, saying “religion is a persodnal matter” that should not be forced on the people.
According to them, no one has stopped Atuwatse II from being a “devout” Christian as the country’s constitution gives him the fundamental right to practice a religion of his belief without let or hindrance.
” He cannot also stop or condemn others practising their religion. Therefore the ” new order of Iwere Kingdom” is legally not binding on anybody”, they declared.
Consequently, the leáders corrected the impression being created by the monarch that his subject worship him and his ancestors with the Itsekiri anthem, saying Itsekiri people do not necessarily worship thier Olu and ancestors but only sang the anthem which is followed by “Ogiame suoooo” as a mark of respect and honour for the Oluship as an institution.
The leaders therefore urged the Olu to renounce his “order” and act accordingly so that the protest by the youths and women does not snowball into a state of anarchy in the land.
After they addressed the crowd, the leaders in the forefront joined the people and sang the Itsekiri anthem which the Olu had “forbidden” and thereafter paid obeisance to the King chanting “Ogiame suooooo”.
Convener of the protest, Omolubi Newuwunmi, who responded after the leaders made their position in the crisis public, said the siege. to the palace would continue until the monarch renounced his “declaration”.
About 5,000 women were already grouping to storm the palace on Tuesday. Earlier in a statement signed by 22 palace chiefs of Warri Kingdom,which she read , Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor said: “In Warri Kingdom, there are Christians, Muslims and pagans to the extent that the Olu appointed an Itsekiri as a chaplain for the Kingdom.”
She said the authors of the edict have now abandoned the monarch and his faith and went into hiding to avoid harassment from the angry Itsekiri, especially the youths.
However, the Olu appears unrepentant as he is sticking to his guns, a development which had further torn the Kingdom apart.
Though the monarch has not been seen in public since the crisis started four days ago, a few elders, leaders, chiefs, youths, as well as representatives of the ruling houses have been meeting with him but he has not changed his mind.
Meanwhile, a Warri based cleric, Reverend (Dr.) Stephen Gbejero, has described the ongoing impasse as very unfortunate and shameful, saying this is the first time Itsekiris are challenging their Olu in over 500 years since they migrated from the Benin Kingdom. “In this situation, the King has put his hand in the mouth of Itsekiris and I believe Ogiame should be diplomatic about this issue because it has never happened before,” Gbejero said.
Maintaining that he was not in support of the plans by the Olu to abolish the “Ogiame” title, the cleric urged Itsekiris not to crucify the king for repenting and turning to God.
He nonetheless urged the monarch not to impose laws on his subject, saying what he should do is to “give to God his portion and the devil his own portion.” According to the cleric, “I am of the view that the title “Ogiame” must not be changed. All the king that have ruled Iwere land before him since over 500 years bore that title and a lot of them were “Christians”.’
Trouble started last Wednesday when the monarch issued a “declaration”, to which he renounced “Umalokun” (goddess of the sea) which he alleged his people had a blood covenant with.
He also renounced the title “Ogiame” which he alleged connotes an allegiance to “Umalokun” deity.
The monarch also abolished the Itsekiri anthem which he alleged is sung as a “worship to the king”.
Also, he purportedly banned “all sacrifice of wine, blood, food, water, kola nut and other items (known and unknown) offered in Iwere land.
