Ayiri vows to dethrone Olu of Warri for reducing Ologbotsere title to ‘nickname’

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has abolished the traditional title of Ologbotsere in Itsekiri kingdom and thus, making former Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, titleless.

Reacting, Ayirimi Emani vowed he would also stop Ogiame Atuwatse III from parading himself as the Olu of Warri.

The Olu of Warri abolished the Ologbotsere title before descendants of the Ologbotsere family at a meeting in his palace on Tuesday.

The monarch, who stepped into the venue of the meeting with Ologbotsere descendants in the palace, acknowledged greetings from the chiefs, the Ologbotsere family members and others in the hall.

The report of the meeting as read by Chief Brown Mene said; “We have taken time to ponder and have arrived at our final decision.

“The monarch called you because of the respect he has for the Ologbotsere descendants.

“It is the king that gives chieftaincy titles. It is also the king that withdraws titles. This has is the tradition.

“There are several of Ologbotsere children that are chiefs. The Ologbotsere family is very dear to the monarch.

“There is no Ologbotsere title again. The head of the Ologbotsere title can answer the nickname.

“It is the pronouncement of the king and Itsekiri nation. There will be peace, blessings in the land.

“There is no Ologbotsere again. Nobody should parade in that title. You remember the king dissolved the Council of Chiefs and have been re-admitting and revalidating titles and has also reconstituted the council of Chiefs.

“Nobody should relate with anyone in the title as Ologbotsere,” he said.

Reacting, the former Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Chief Ayirimi Emami, described the monarch’s ruling to have “no consequence or effect”.

According to him: “As far as I am concerned we are in court and I do not recognise him as the Olu of Warri. He was neither properly selected nor crowned, so he cannot parade himself as the Olu of Warri.

“To me, he remains Prince Tsola Emiko and not the Olu of Warri. His action (stripping him of the title) shows that he was not properly crowned because if he was he would know the implication of what he is doing.

“The throne of the Olu of Warri cannot be for sale to the highest bidder and we will see to that.”