BIGPENNGR gathered that the public announcement which triggered the protest, was however, updated while the protest was ongoing apparently after attention of Delta government officials were drawn to it unknowing to the protesters.
The protesters who converged at the NPA Expressway by Ugbuwangue, had matched through the ever-busy expressway to Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, to register their grievances.
Some of the placards bore by the protesters read: “Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North, belong to the Olu of Warri”, “Stop Undermining the Itsekiris”, “Olu of Warri is the overlordship of the three Warris”, “The Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, is trying to breach the Peace in Warri”, “Ogiame leads, Itsekiris follow” among others.
The protesters accused the state government of deliberately undermining the paramount Itsekiri monarch, vowing never to tolerate any assault on the throne of the Olu of Warri.
The protesters led by the Secretary of Itsekiri National Youth Council, Warri South Chapter, Comrade Jemi Mene-Ejegi, Mr Mone Oris, and Mr Beoyibo Bawo, called on the State Government to revisit the gazette constituting the State’s Traditional Rulers Council for proper recognition of the Olu of Warri.
They said the State Gazette which established the Traditional Rulers Council, should be review as Iwere (Itsekiri) people have only one monarch and his rulership should reflect in all his domains.
The protesters however maintained that Iwere Kingdom remains committed to the peaceful coexistence of Delta State.
Addressing newsmen, Chairman of Itsekiri Interest Group, Mr. Gbubemi Awala, said “We stand against the recent publication of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, where a list was released, but The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, who controls Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, was not seen”.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, a Warri-based lawyer, Robinson Ariyo, urged the state government to immediately rectify what he called “this nauseating and provocative circular by going back to the extant structure that puts the Olu of Warri as numero uno monarch in the three Warri Council Areas”.
Youths of Itsekiri ethnic nationality, however, called for a review of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Gazette, a document governing the traditional institution in the state.
Meanwhile, in a backdated circular which excluded the monarch from reigning over Warri North and Warri South-west Council Areas, Delta State Government listed Olu of Warri as a prominent monarch in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas.
In the circular dated Tuesday January 25, updated at about midday, Wednesday January 26, from the office of the Secretary to Delta State Government, the government listed Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri, The Ovie of Agbarha–Warri, London Aforkerhi Orhifi, Ememoh II and The Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo, Warri, Sir Emmanuel Onobrayekpeye Okumagba as the Monarchs in Warri South Local Government Areas.
The updated circular also listed, Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri, The Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, Couple Mackson Oromoni and The Pere of Gbaramatu, William Naira .S. Ogoba, Oboro Gbaraun II as the monarchs in Warri South-West Local Government Area.
It however listed the Olu of Warri as the sole monarch in Warri North Local Government Area but sources said the exclusion of the Egbema monarch in Warri North Local Government Area, could trigger fresh round of protests.
BIGPENNGR had reported that the updated circular which named Major-Gen Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd.) Orhue 1, the Orodje of Okpe as the State Chairman, the Pere of Akugbene-Mein, Kalamana VIII, HRM Pere Stanley .P. Luke, as 1st Vice Chairman and the Obi of Ubulu-Unor, HRM Agbogidi, Obi Henry .A. Kikachukwu as 2nd Vice Chairman, respectively, may have doused tension among the aggrieved Itsekiris in the State.
