Olu Stool Tussle: Ginuwa Ruling House has no right to suspend Chief Ayiri Emami as the Ologbotsere of Warri -Chief Akoma

….Says Tsola Emiko was disqualified in 2015 over non-compliance with the law

By Akpos Oghenetega,

Popular Warri Chief and member of Ginuwa I Ruling House, Akoma Dudu-Dimeyin, has reacted to the purported suspension of Chief Ayiri Emami as the Ologbotsere of Warri, by some persons, saying: “The Ginuwa I Ruling House, has no power to suspend the Ologbotsere or any other Chief, it is an individual or constituted authority that has the right to hire, that can fire”.

Chief Akoma Dimeyin, who said he introduced Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh to deal with the Ologbotsere earlier in the year as a result of his ill-health then, averred in a press statement that the Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Emami, told them during a meeting that the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli was indisposed.

According to him, it was at the meeting convened by the Ologbotsere, Chief Ayirimi Emami, he allegedly introduced Mr. Okotie-Eboh to act on his behalf as Olori-Ebi of the Ginuwa I Ruling House.

In the statement released today, Thursday, April 1, Chief Akoma, explained that he spoke as Olori-Ebi when the Ologbotsere invited representatives of the Ginuwa I Ruling House to the meeting when he informed them of the Monarch’s state of health.

Chief Akoma, specified that he had to write several letters to the Ologbotsere, informing him of his recovery health-wise and return as Olori-Ebi, following what he described as the wrong process Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh was driving.

According to the Warri Chief, the Ologbotsere in conjunction with Ojoye-Isan told Mr. Okotie-Eboh Monday, March 29 at a meeting held in the Olu Palace, Warri, that Prince Tsola Emiko does not meet the requirement of OMOBA as stipulated in sections of the 1979 Edict.

He said the candidate presented to the Ojoye-Isan (The Olu Advisory Council) led by the Ologbotsere a few days ago, as the choice of OMOBA, was allegedly disqualified in 2015 over perceived failure to meet the criteria to succeed (his transited father) the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, leading to the emergence of Ogiame Ikenwoli as the Warri Monarch.

Chief Akoma, claimed that Barr. Toju Emiko, who read the statement purportedly suspending Chief Ayirimi Emami, even wrote and published a book on the processes leading to the disqualification of Tsola Emiko in 2015 and the emergence of Ogiame Ikenwoli as the Olu of Warri.

He explained that section 2 of the 1979 Edict, stipulates the order of sequence in terms of who succeeds the king in the event of a transition, saying, “it is from father to son, but if not suitable, the kingship goes to the brother, uncle or grandson and if there is no grandson, it goes to other relations, that is where Tsola Emiko belongs in this instance”.

Chief Akoma, further noted that section 4 of the Edict, stipulates that for someone to qualify as “potential successor to the revered throne of the Olu of Warri, when vacant, the person’s father must be an Itsekiri by birth, while his mother should also be either Itsekiri or Edo by birth”, adding, “IFE is the last process of getting a successor to the throne, after scaling the process of Ojoye-Isan led by the Ologbotsere”.