Amidst denials and succession controversies that is rocking Warri Kingdom, the Delta State Government says it is not aware of the passage of the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli.
The Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, stated this on Tuesday shortly after the State Executive Council meeting presided by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Asaba.
Aniagwu said: “Each community in Delta State has laid down rules/tradition and ruling houses, so Itsekiri will not be different.
“The Delta State Government has not been informed that the Olu of Warri has passed away.
“For us, we are not aware that Olu of Warri has died.
“To us, there’s no controversy because we were not informed.
“The issue of the Olu of Warri is the same thing to all the communities.
“When a king dies, the community will write to the government, which will do all that is necessary for the purpose of smooth transition.
“It is not entirely the issue of once the father dies, the son takes over.”
Recall that the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, who is traditionally empowered to announced the passage of the Olu, had dismissed the announcement of the passage of the Olu and subsequent announcement of a new Olu by the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Atserunleghe, following unsettled disagreement with the Ginuwa Ruling House.
The Ginuwa Ruling House, led by the Olori-Ebi, Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, had suspended the Ologbotsere following disagreement over the emergence of Prince Tsola Emiko as the Olu-designate.
The Ojoye-Isan, the apex body of traditional titleholders in the kingdom, led by the Ologbotsere, had disqualified Prince Tsola on the strength of Article 4 of the law guiding the stool, which bars princes, except those born by Bini or Itsekiri mothers, from the throne.
Reports say the emergence of the Olu-designate without the Ologbotsere led to the current crisis, with the state government refusing to acknowledge the Omoba because of “issues around his emergence”.
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