Itsekiri Nation Announces Passage Of Olu, Unveils Successor Amid Controversy

Amidst controversy and bitter rivalry, the Itsekiri nation on Monday officially announced the passing of its monarch, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli at Ode Itsekiri, its ancestral home in the Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The Iyatsere of Warri kingdom and Acting Chairman Warri Council of Chiefs and Olu Advisory Council, Chief Johnson Amatserunreleghe, also announced the new Olu Designate Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko and presented the Omoba to the Itsekiri nation.

BIGPENNGR reports that this is coming amidst rejection by the Ologbotsere of Warri, second-in-command to the Olu throne, Chief Ayirimi Emami, who declared that the purported announcement of the passage of the Olu Ogiame Ikenwoli as illegal, null and void.

BIGPENNGR had reported that the Ologbotsere, also declared the unveiling of Prince Tsola Emiko on Monday April 5 by some group of persons, as successor to the throne as illegal.

But reports says just after the official declaration of the monarch’s demise, 20 cannon shots were fired to announce the departure of the last Olu.

The 20 cannon shots signified that 20 Olus had reigned over the Iwere nation.

At the brief event, the Iyatsere of Warri kingdom, Chief Johnson Amatserunreleghe, announced that there would be no parties or merrymaking in the oil city of Warri for the next three months.

He said this as he declared a three-month period of mourning over the passing of Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli

While declaring the mourning period, Chief Amatserunreleghe said: “No burials, marriages, dancing will hold across all Itsekiri communities for three months

“There shall be no merrymaking of any kind anywhere in Iwere land. All Itsekiri sons and daughters must tie their wrappers upside down for the duration.”

Meets The New Olu Of Warri Designate

BIGPENNGR learnt that the new Olu designate was born April 2, 1984, to Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko (the late Ogiame Atuwatse II) and Gladys Durorike Emiko in Warri, Delta State.

He attended the prestigious NNPC primary school in Warri and for his secondary Schools education he went to Adesoue College, Ofa, Kwara State from 1995 to 2001.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in International Studies and Political Science with minors in History and Economics from the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

He also holds a Master’s of Science degree in Management from Case Western Reserve University in 2007.

Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko

He returned to Nigeria for NYSC in 2008 where he served in Public Affairs Department of National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NAPIMS)

From 2009 to 2010, he worked as Officer at the Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Find Administrator (SNCPFA) and worked for Sahara Energy as Government Relations Officer (2010-2012)

Emiko, a serial entrepreneur is the founder of Noble Energy Ltd and Corral Curators Ltd. He is the chairman, Ocean Marine Security Ltd and Director, Golf of Guinea Ltd and Vessellink Nig Ltd. Good business acumen may be said to have flowed from his late father.

Prince Utieyinoritsetsola is a loving and caring husband of Mrs Ivie Uhunoma Emiko and an inspiring father to Oritsetsemaye, Oritsetemisan and Oritsetimeyin Emiko.