The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, has asked the people of Itsekiri nation to henceforth cease addressing Chief Ayirimi Emami as the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom.
The Olu of Warri gave the instruction during a meeting with the descendants of the Ologbotsere family held at the royal palace in Warri on Tuesday.
Atuwatse III abolished the Ologbotsere title, saying that the erstwhile holder of the title should no longer be addressed as such across Itsekiri kingdom and other parts of the world.
The Monarch also invited the Ologbotsere family and instructed them never to address Chief Emami as Ologbotsere anymore, noting that the head of the Ologbotsere title can only answer to the nickname.
The Ologbotsere descendants at the meeting included the head of the family, Pa Jofotan Oporakun; Secretary General of the family, William L. A. Anukun; Mr. Fred Omaghomi, Besidane Esimaje, Omaghomi, Hon O. J. Nana, and Mr. Samuel B.O. Okorodudu.
“We have taken time to ponder and have arrived at our final decision,” the monarch said, as he called on High Chief Brown Mene to read the royal position.
While reading the palace resolution, Mene explained that abolition of the Ologbotsere title had not in any way denied the family members of chieftaincy titles in Itsekiri Kingdom.
He said, “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 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.”
Speaking with The Nation, the embattled Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Emami denounced his disrobing by the Olu of Warri as of “no consequence or effect”.
Emami said that he neither recognise Ogiame Atuwatse as the Olu nor his Tuesday’s pronouncement made at the Aghofen (Palace) in Warri metropolis.
He said, “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.”
Emami vowed that the next frontline of his battle with the popular monarch would be to stop him from parading as the Olu of Warri.
Embattled chief Emami told his supporters to remain calm, stating that the battle has only shifted to a higher gear.
This comes one month after the 37-year-old monarch, was crowned the 21st Olu of Warri, immediately assuming the title of Ogiame Atuwatse III, in the footsteps of his late father and 19th Olu, Godwin Toritseju Emiko, Atuwatse II.
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