The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has said that part of the reasons he went to court over the succession of the 20th Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, was to prevent a situation where just about anybody in future could become the Olu of Warri Kingdom.
Emami spoke in a statement by the Spokesman of Ologbotsere descendants worldwide, Alex Eyengho.
Eyengho said Chief Emami spoke at a dinner organised in honour of the Chairman of the Itsekiri Resource Centre and former Principal of Ogidigben Grammar School, Hon. D.O. Johnson, who is currently battling with some health challenges.
According to Comrade Eyengho in the statement on Monday, Emami, who is the founder and patron of IRC, has kept his cool since the commencement of the current illegality in March 2021 in the overall interest of Itsekiriland and to keep the sanctity of the ancient and pristine Warri Kingdom.
The statement said: “They know in their inner minds that what they have done is illegal and absolutely wrong.
“Let me make it clear that the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami is not stricto senso and ab initio against the emergence of Prince Tsola Emiko as the Omoba or Olu-designate of Warri Kingdom.
“The Ologbotsere is only in unrepentant support of the extant laws of the succession of the Olu of Warri throne which is the 1979 Edict.
“The Itsekiri people are known to err only on the side of the law in all matters. This is the only sin of the incumbent Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami for insisting that extant laws and order should be followed as to who succeeds the 20th Warri monarch.”
Emami said he had to ultimately go to court to uphold the sanctity of the Itsekiri nation and save the succession procedure of the Warri monarchical throne from being hijacked by absolute strangers, adding that allowing this would amount to allowing stranger elements in Warri Kingdom to become the Olu of Warri.”
Some of the other members of IRC and Itsekiri dignitaries who attended the well-coordinated dinner were Hon. Olayemi J. Nanna, Sir Egert Omoneukanrin, Hon. Kenneth Afejuku and Sir Amorighoye S. Mene.
