PHOTOS show the Warri Regent with other representatives of the Ruling House at the Press Conference.
By Oluwayemi Davidson, Warri
Fresh crisis is rocking the succession bid to the vacant Olu of Warri stool as the Ginuwa I Ruling house, which is the only ruling house in the land, on Tuesday announced the suspension, with immediate effect, of the Ologbotsere, the traditional Prime Minister, Chief Ayiri Emami, from the Warri Council of Chiefs.
Chief Ayirimi Emami was ordered by the ruling house to “immediately step aside as the Ologbotsere and stop parading himself as such”.
The ruling house accused Chief Ayiri Emami of “having exhibited actions and tendencies unbecoming of the position he occupies, and having proven himself unworthy of the Ologbotsere stool”.
Announcing the suspension of the traditional Prime Minister at a crowded press conference held at the courtyard of the Olu of Warri royal palace, the Regent of Warri Kingdom, Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, declared that “the Iyatsere, who is next in command, and in fact the most senior chief who accompanied Ginuwa I from Benin to found the Warri Kingdom, is hereby appointed as acting chairman of the council of chiefs and the Olu’s Advisory Council”.
“He is to take over immediately and steer the remainder of the process to give us an organized, speedy closure. Enough of Ayiri’s antics and approach to our affairs. These are serious traditional and spiritual matters, not meant for people without any strength of character, nor the mental capacity”.
The ruling house comprising members of the Emiko Descendants Forum had pointedly accused Chief Ayiri Emami of unilaterally taking an irrational decision by declaring the disqualification of a popular contender to the vacant stool of the Olu of Warri, Prince Tsola Emiko, who had been unanimously nominated “as the most qualified person to sit on the throne at this time” by the bonafide members of the ruling house.
The ruling house claimed that governing Edict does not give the Ologbotsere and the Olu’s Advisory Council such powers whatsoever to disqualify any candidate presented to them by the Ruling House insusting that their only prescribed function is to summon the elders and senior officials of the ruling house, and in the presence of the Regent consult the Ifa Oracle one last time.
The Ruling house expressed worry that “this singular action of ‘disqualification’ is now threatening the relative peace in Warri Kingdom and almost tearing apart the very fabric of our existence”.
While reiterating their loyalty “to the Crown”, and commitment to the Itsekiri people, the Ruling house maintained that they will continue to stand for all the sacredly held values just as they enjoined the youths to remain calm and resolute assuring that they will not betray them.