The newly crowned Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli , has assured people of Warri Kingdom and Itsekiri neighbours that he will ensure a peaceful reign as well as provide enabling environment for economic and social life to thrive in Warri Kingdom.
The new Warri Monarch who gave the assurance shortly after he was crowned as the 20th Olu of Warri, Saturday December 12, 2015 at Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of Itsekiri people, thanked Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his leadership and enjoined him to do more in terms of job creation as well as positive youth engagement.
Secretary to Government of The Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that no Itsekiri son or daughter has been found culpable in the ongoing corruption cases in the country and commended Itsekiri people for peacefully choosing their Monarch.
He called on the Warri Monarch to partner the Federal Government in the quest to tackle unemployment in the country.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa in a remark stated that the manner the new Olu of Warri was chosen “speaks volume of the unity of Itsekiri Nation”.
Dr. Okowa promised to work closely with the traditional institutions with a view to developing the grassroots in Delta State.
The newly crowned Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who made his first official outing by gracing the coronation of the new Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli , spoke of the historical ties between the Itsekiri Nation and their Ife brothers and expressed optimism that the relationship will continue.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of Warri Advisory Council and Warri Council of Chiefs, Chief Tesigiweno Yahaya Pessu explained that Itsekiris were determined to succeed during their trying period hence the grandeur that greeted the colourful coronation of their new king.
Our Senior Correspondent reports that there were goodwill messages from prominent traditional rulers such as the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Emeka Achebe, The Orodje of Okpe and The Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, Ukori 1.
The colourful ceremony climaxed with the wearing of the exalted crown on the new Olu in line with the Itsekiri tradition by the Head (Olare-Aja) of Jakpa, Pa. Higson Jofotan Oporokun, who is from the respected Ologbotsere family of Warri Kingdom.
The array of eminent personalities who graced the historic event include All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the member representing Delta South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator James Manager, the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, representative of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Senator Abdullahi Girel, The Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom, Capt. Joseph Timiyan, Obi of Owa Kingdom, Dr. Efeizomor, The Ovie of Uvwie, Abe 1, Ovie of Okpe –Isoko, Ekpolo II, The Obong of Calabar, representative of The Oba of Benin as well as prominent Itsekiri Chiefs, politicians and technocrats.
From Left: Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick (right) & others during the coronation of His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli Emiko 1, The Olu of Warri at Ode-Itsekiri, Warri south Local Government Area of Delta State
Fresh Angle International can also report that prior to the coronation of the new Olu of Warri, Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, which is the traditional headquarters of Itsekiri Nation experienced massive infrastructural projects and aesthetics.
Our Correspondent who visited the ancient town otherwise known as Big Warri, where colourful traditional dances took place as part of the funeral rites of the transited 19th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, report that ultra modern buildings were springing up and intra city roads of reasonable quality which were recently constructed now links different quarters as well as streets in the Itsekiri ancestral home.
Entrance of the reconstructed Olu of Warri Palace in Ode-Itsekiri
One of the newly constructed roads at Ode-Itsekiri
It would be recalled that Ode-Itsekiri suffered severe attacks and destruction in the hands of Ijaws during the Infamous Warri Crisis.
A new Royal Jetty leading to the reconstructed Olu of Warri Palace at Ode-Itsekiri painted with red and white is a new edifice to behold, while the road that leads to the Palace has been reconstructed.
There is also a brand new Information Centre, Market as well as new ultra modern residential homes built by prominent Itsekiri Chiefs, Political and Community leaders.
Some Itsekiris who bare their mind in a chat with Fresh Angle International expressed joy at the infrastructural development in their ancestral home and described it as a sign of a new dawn in Warri Kingdom.
They enjoined Itsekiri traditional and political leaders to ensure that the current state of development at Ode-Itsekiri is sustained.
Meanwhile, barely a week to the coronation of the new Warri Monarch, Special Assistant to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on Non-Indigenes Affairs, Nze Francis Onuora promised that Igbos would honour Itsekiri Nation during the coronation ceremony.
Nze Onuora made the declaration during a maiden meeting held with selected representatives of various Igbo groups in Delta State, particularly in Delta South and Central Senatorial districts at Government House Annex in Warri.
L-R: Wilson Egbudu, Osy Nwandu, Nze Francis Onuora, Amaechi Ogbonna & others
The Governor’s aide lauded what he described as the good leadership qualities of Dr. Okowa, especially in terms of appointments into the Delta State cabinet and urged the Ndigbo Political Forum to always unite in order to attract more good things from the Delta State government.
A woman Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Delta South and Central districts, Dr. Ann Nwandu used the opportunity to appreciate the Delta State Governor, Dr. Okowa for appointing Nze Francis Onuora as the Special Assistant on Non-Indigenes Affairs.
Other members of the Ndigbo Political Forum who spoke lauded Governor Okowa and Nze Francis Onuora for carrying everyone along in the development of Delta State, especially the governor’s SMART agenda.
In a remark, Mr. Amaechi Ogbonna expressed believe in one Igbo Nation and urged Nze Francis Onuora to use his position to better the lot of the Ndigbo and other ethnic groups.
Mr. Ogbonna further stated that after the civil war in 1970, the first set of traders in Warri, along Warri-Sapele Road and Okere Roundabout were Igbos who sold their wares on temporary structures made possible by the late Olu of Warri, Erejuwa II as a result of the passion he had for the Igbo Nation.
The Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo Ughelli Chapter, Engr. Chima Ohale, stated that Ndigbo Political Forum is to further unite the Ndigbo in Delta South, Central and the entire Delta State.
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