… Youths protest moves to jettson traditional title
SAN FRANCISCO, September 07, (THEWILL) – There are fears that the moves by the Olu of Warri,His Royal Majesty, Atuwatse II, to change the revered title of “Ogiame”, which is the symbol of the Iwere Kingdom of Warri, may lead to fresh crisis in the land.
The moves were in deed resisted on Saturday by thousands of the youths in the town who stormed the king’s palace to protest.
“Ogiame” means “King of the River”, according to the history behind the Itsekiri throne.
The protesting youths who set up bonfire at the front of the palace also prevented vehicular movement to the areas for hours as they described the development as unacceptable to the Itsekiri people.
It would be recalled that the monarch had few days ago declared in a document christened; “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom” that the “Ogiame” title which has been in existence for over 500 years would cease to exist following the recent consecration of the Kingdom to God.
The monarch in the document said he had renounced his allegiance to the “Umalokun” and other gods of the sea, land and sky as well as denounced the “Ogiame” title to which his ancestors had pledged allegiance to “Umalokun” and other deities.
This followed his recent consecration as a believer thus renouncing all altars of idolatry in each community of Iwere Kingdom and sanctified the land in the name of Jesus Christ.
“Henceforth, I submit and present the title “Ogiame” to God, the creator, which made the sea and rules over all. Therefore, no Olu or person may bear the title or name that now belong to God.
” I nullify all tokens of libation poured on the land and seas or sprinkled into the air in Iwere land. I frustrate all sacrifices of wine, blood, food, water, kolanuts, and other items (know and unknown) offered in Iwere land.
” In conformity with the new covenant through the blood of Jesus, I release the royal bloodline, the chiefs of the Iwere kingdom, the Iwere people and land, waters and atmosphere of Iwere kingdom from all ties to all other spiritual covenants and agreements,” the monarch had declared.
In the document, he said as a descendant of Prince Ginuwa of the Benin Kingdom, the progenitor of the Iwere monarchy and as a royal priest in the order of Melchizedek, he used the authority of the blood of Jesus to destroy all ancient and new altars in Iwere land not raised up to God.
However, the Emiko royal family in has dismissed the declaration with six cardinal points.
In a position paper signed by 37 members of the royal family and made available to newsmen, the family members declared that historically when Prince Ginuwa left Benin to become the first Itsekiri monarch about 1480, it was the authorrity and blessing of his father (Olua, the then Oba of Benin) to reign over the river- hence the title “Ogiame”.
Specifically, they said that the property in the title “Ogiame” belongs to the Itsekiri people who have so addressed their monarchs right from inception over five hundred year ago (including Christian monarchs).
While saying that Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, as the custodian/ trustee of the title for the Itsekiri people, the royal kinsmen acknowledged that the monarch in his capacity as the reigning royal father has authority to review aspects of the culture/tradition in line with modernity but this should be done following due process of constitution with Itsekiri stakeholders.
The document stated that the people consider the history/pedigree of the “Ogiame” title as such that the Itsekiri people hold it dear and sacrosanct to the extent that it should not be cancelled for whatever reasons.
Tension was building up around the palace as youths pervert people in and out of the palace when filing this report.
The monarch was scheduled to meet with some stakeholders in the palace over the crisis when the youths stormed the palace in protest.
A Niger Delta activist, Omolubi Newuwunmi, who was said to have convened the protest, declined comment saying however that the royal family had waded into the matter and were handling it.
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