Ologbotsere Descendants To Lori-Ogbebor: Let Ayiri Emami Be, Go Clear Yourself Of Alleged ‘N300m Chevron’s Fraud Case’

The Ologbotsere Descendants Worldwide, has taken a swipe at a prominent chief in Warri Kingdom, Rita Lori-Ogbebor, asking her to face her legal issues with Chevron over the alleged illegally withdrawal of three hundred million naira (N300,000,000.00) from Chevron Nigeria Limited-initiated Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC) bank account and let the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami be.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (www.bigpenngr.com) understands the Ologbotsere Descendants reacted following Lori-Ogbebor’s diatribe against Chief Ayirimi Emami over the recent visit of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to the latter after he earlier visited the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III on January 14, 2023.

Lori-Ogbebor, had in an open letter entitled “To All Sons and Daughters of Iwere Land” By Rita Lori-Ogbebor”, took a swoop on Ayirimi Emami, describing him as “the stripped Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom”.

She, also claimed that the Ooni’s visit to the Ologbotsere “has been very embarrassing to the Itsekiri people, the Ooni himself and the Yoruba nation.”

But in a spontaneous reaction to the salvos fired by Lori-Ogbebor, spokesman of Ologbotsere Descendants, Comrade Alex Eyengho, in a statement on Friday, said the outburst of Rita Lori clearly revealed that there are certainly two sets of people who are fanning the lingering uneasy calm in Warri Kingdom and Rita Lori-Ogbebor belong to those who didn’t want enduring peace and unity in the Kingdom.

Eyengho, in the statement noted that while the likes of the Ooni of Ife, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and several other non Itsekiris, are busy trying to find lasting peace to lingering crisis that degenerated from the installation of Olu of Warri, Rita Lori-Ogbebor and her co-war-mongers are busy fanning emblem of crisis for their inordinate ambitions.

The statement reads in full: “The attention of the Ologbotsere Descendants Worldwide, particularly her Spokesperson, Comrade Alex Eyengho, have been drawn to the above referenced missive by Rita Lori-Ogbebor, dated 25th January, 2023 and circulated on various mass media including social media platforms, particularly Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. Having said that, painstaking consultations within the family were made and the outcome is presented as follows:

“Ordinarily, Rita Lori-Ogbebor would have been ignored completely like a plague for this yet-another wanton meddlesome interloping and false         messianic abrasiveness that has become her signature tune, but because of the highly respected and respectable names mentioned by her to misinform the public, and in order to set the records straight for posterity’s sake, this one-off response became imperative.

“Yes, it is true as stated in Rita Lori’s now viral public letter, that the highly revered 1st class monarch, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, visited Warri Kingdom “and subsequently” proceeded same day of arrival (January 14, 2023) to the Ubeji-Warri home of the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami. It is also true, as she stated that “the Ooni is one of our (the Itsekiri) allies, friend and traditionally a father.”

“However, it is totally untrue and indeed the figment of the riotous and incoherent imaginations of Rita Lori-Ogbebor, that Chief Ayiri Emami is “the stripped Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom,” neither is it true that the Ooni’s visit to the Ologbotsere “has been very embarrassing to the Itsekiri people, the Ooni himself and the Yoruba nation.” These are deliberately dangerous falsehoods taken too far by the abrasive Rita Lori-Ogbebor. If anything, the Ooni’s visit to Warri Kingdom and subsequently to the home of Chief Ayiri Emami, represents a flicker of hope for peace and unity in Warri Kingdom. I may revisit some of these important points in subsequent paragraphs.

“The Ooni’s visit to Warri Kingdom and the outburst of Rita Lori clearly revealed two sets of people in the lingering uneasy calm in Warri Kingdom: Those who want enduring peace and unity in the Kingdom and those who do not. Sadly, Rita Lori-Ogbebor belongs to the latter group and the Itsekiri and world should take note! To start with, her outburst is disrespectful to the Warri monarch and the Ooni of Ife, because she has simply told the world that both monarchs do not know what they were doing! For the records, during the Ooni’s visit, he told the Ologbotsere that he informed the Olu that he was going to see him “and the Olu gave his nod in excitement.” During his visit, the Ooni preached nothing but peace and unity in Warri Kingdom, which is the gospel every well-meaning Itsekiri, home and abroad should be preaching. It is therefore embarrassing that Rita Lori made herself the unappointed and unsolicited spokesperson of the two monarchs! In the hierarchy of Chiefs in Warri Kingdom, Rita Lori-Ogbebor can not go anywhere near the first five (5) Gazetted Chiefs: Ologbotsere, Iyatsere, Uwangue, Ojomo and Otsodi, in that order of seniority. In fact, her social title has no function whatsoever in the scheme of things in terms of the structure of Warri Kingdom. For this reason, she should be completely ignored as a meddlesome interloper that she is and has always been. She has created more problems for the Itsekiri and Warri Kingdom than solutions!

“The Ologbotsere Descendants Worldwide have been very consistent in maintaining that the Ginuwa Rulling House who purportedly suspended the Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, have no such power in our tradition, custom or extant laws. The title is a family title and this remains the position of the family. However, because there are cases in courts on this matter, it is only wise to avoid being subjudice and the temptation of being dragged into the mire, a natural terrain of Rita Lori-Ogbebor. For this embarrassment caused everybody by Rita Lori, we apologize to some group of concerned Itsekiri who have been working vigorously behind the scenes to bring Warri Kingdom back to the path of peace and unity. In the same vein, we apologize most sincerely to the likes of the Ooni of Ife, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and several other non Itsekiris, who have advised in the past that the Itsekiri should err only on the side of peace and unity. Rita Lori-Ogbebor does not represent who we are as Itsekiri people!

“In rounding off, it is apposite at this point to shed light on the personal hatred Rita Lori has always had for Chief Ayiri Emami and her consistent inconsistency. During the wake of the succession to the throne of the Olu of Warri, she became a sudden Itsekiri letter writer and wrote almost 20 public letters in series, most of which were targeted at the person of the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami. In her early series, she was very strong on the point that the extant succession laws to the throne of the Olu of Warri must be followed stricto senso in selecting the successor of the Olu who had gone to join his ancestors. The world know better now how she reversed herself in a most shameless manner.

Over the years, she has dragged Chief Ayiri Emami to the EFCC, the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police among others, over frivolous allegations, but to her chagrin, Chief Emami always came out with a clean bill of health after thorough investigations. Instructively, one of such frivolous allegations by her against Chief Ayiri is the accounts of the Chevron Nigeria Limited-initiated Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC). Today however, the hunter has become the hunted! She and others have been dragged to court by Chevron for allegedly illegally withdrawing three hundred million naira (N300,000,000.00) from the same IRDC bank account!

“It is important to emphasize that the only pathway to serious development in Itsekiriland nay, Warri Kingdom, is peace and unity because a house divided against itself can not stand. Rita Lori-Ogbebor should face her legal issues with Chevron and let the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami be!”, the statement concluded.