Prince Abiloye Ikenwoli Emiko: Destined to be a King over his people

Born in 1955 to His Royal Majesty, Gbesimi Emiko, Ogiame Erejuwa 11, Omoba Godfrey Abiloye Ikenwoli Emiko is next only to Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko who became His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 11 the Olu of Warri  on May 2, 1987 in his father’s children lineage.

Ikenwoli also became the first child of his mother, Olori Eyengboluwade Emiko by reason death of his direct elder siblings of the same mother leaving him now with just a brother, Bernard and a sister, Abefe now Mrs. Diabo.

He attended the then St. John Primary school now Ikengbuwa Primary School, Ajamimogha, Warri before proceeding to the prestigious Hussey College Warri and then Adesola High School, Ibadan where his father had some properties and finally Kokori Grammar School in Ethiope Council area of Delta for his secondary education.

For his tertiary education, he attended the University of Benin (Uniben) where he graduated in Business Administration in 1987 under the watchful eyes of his father.

A truly home boy to the core, he was the favourite of his father who taught him the ways, style, tradition, culture, majestic practices and encumbrances of the throne. Indeed, as his name implies; the king has come- Abiloye Ikenwoli- he was born to be king and destined to ascend the throne of his fore fathers having been born at the time his father became the Olu of Warri according to Barr. Toritseju Emiko.

Sources disclosed that even the late Erejuwa 11 made it clear to all that matters that his preferred choice for the pristine throne after him is Prince Abiloye Ikenwoli but the leadership of the Warri Kingdom then had their own plans and made prince Godwin Toritseju the Olu of Warri who was installed in a very colorful ceremony attended by the late sage and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Atuwatse 11 and became the 19^th Olu of Warri for 28years having ascended the throne on May 2nd 1987-2015.

As destiny would always have it, Omoba Godfrey Ikenwoli waited the whole 28 years of Atuwatses’ reign for him to ascend the throne, thus realizing not only the dream of the late Erejuwa 11 but the manifestation of the true meaning of his names. As it is succinctly put, destiny can only be delayed but not denied.

Emergence and Ascendancy

Following the official announcement of the passage of Atuwatse 11 by the Warri Council Chiefs at the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people at Ode-Itsekiri (Big-Warri) on Saturday, October 19, 2015 with the symbolic breaking of the earthen pot (Ale-Je-EFun) by the most senior chief of the kingdom and the Ojomo of Warri, Chief Yayah Pessu to signal the beginning of a three lunar months mourning, prince Abiloye Ikenwoli was also at the sorrowful event publicly introduced to the entire Itsekiri nation as the new Olu of Warri designate to the tumultuous and thunderous ovation, elation and exhibition of joy beyond the sadness that marked the pronouncement of the demise of Atuwatse 11.  

Thus started the journey to royalty signaling a new dawn in Iwere Kingdom wherein also began his immediate relocation from his former rented 3-bedroom apartment at Ubeji community to the lavishly furnished private country home residence of Chief Oma Eyewuoma, the Aboludero of Warri for further traditional kingship tutelage and total seclusion(Daniken) from public glare and social activities. He thus immediately became the full responsibility of the entire Itsekiri nation.

Omoba Not a womanizer-Prince Yemi Emiko

 Married with one wife Mrs. Mary Ikenwoli Emiko(Nee Omaghomi) and three children, two boys and a girl, Omoba Godfrey Emiko is a reserved person not the very outgoing or loud type but certainly not an introvert by any standard according to his brothers and some very those very close to him. The Omoba has never been in politics and has remained an organizer in the familt and a traditionalist to the core.

Indeed, one of them vouch that his current wife is third woman he has met in all his life. After graduation, he worked with Nowcam Services as their Admin Manager for some reasonable years before he retired gracefully and then ventured into private business. He was also a former two-time Chairman of HOSTCOM, Oil and Gas, Itsekiri chapter and a very delightful personality to associate with.

As Chairman of HOSTCOM, Itsekiri chapter he dragged DESOPADEC to court for spending funds meant for the development of Itsekiri communities in building police stations and barracks including renovating a popular recreation Club in Warri, insisting that these were  public service organization not meant to serve  Itsekiri people alone and won the case with an unsatisfactory judgment that did not ordered DESOPADEC to refund the funds so spent illegally or ordered any compensation at all to the Itsekiri purse.

He therefore went to the appellate court to seek further justice to get the appropriate judgement. The case is still pending at the appeal court till date. According to some of his lieutenants at HOSTCOM, this singular struggle has showed stood him out as a good leader because the matter was unwarrantedly politicized by the powers that be who were bent on frustrating his fight for justice.   

He takes a little quantity of “Guinness stout” for alcohol and never exceeds two Cans no matter the social function. He also does not take any other brand of wine, Cognac or spirit no matter how exotic by name, taste, class or cost while he pipes away his Captain Black for cigarette when in company of his friends and associates at his leisure times.

All his brothers and friends testify that Prince Ikenwoli is not a womanizer by any means. He is a very humble, disciplined, calm and calculated person with a peculiar sterling leadership quality from birth that makes him an enigma of sort.

According to Prince Yemi Emiko, he was their leader in the family that the rest of the fathers children looks up to. He hardly gets provoked even when others are at the verge of bursting loose in anger over certain issues in the nuclear family front. He has travelled round the world with the late Erejuwa 11, the 18^th Olu of Warri during his reign. He maintained a very low profile during the reign of Ogiame Atuwatse 11.

 Life Not Full Of Bed of Roses For Him

After the burial of his father and tutor, Erejuwa 11, and the installation of Atuwatse 11, Crown prince Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko began to experience hardship in life besides being the next in line to the then reigning Atuwatse 11, the Olu of Warri , CON.

Indeed as one of his personal friend Mr. Lawrence Koma revealed, “Prince Ikenwoli as a graduate was his fathers’ only graduate son still living in the palace premises. He moved out only after he got a job and rented a flat with his first salary. He truly had a fair share of hard times in his life before ascending the throne as all was not rosy all through for him in the Oil City.

This  account for why at a time he had to relocate from his Ugbori rented apartment near the Olu of Warri palace to Ubeji Community where cost of accommodation was relatively low then even when the traffic grid lock can be sometimes very frustrating till date. It took the assistance of one of his sisters and some others for him to stay alive and survive with his family.

What we expect of him as the new Olu of Warri?

“You know the last 28 years has not been very interesting for the tsekiri nation particularly traditional”, according to Toritseju. He maintained that the Itsekiri nation lost touch with all Erejuwa 11 did and stood for and therefore appealed to the new Olu to bridge the gap and bring back the lost Glory of the Itsekiri people, just as Mr. Lawrence Akoma state that he should bridge the gap between the rich and poor Itsekiri people.

A Sapele-based Itsekiri Youth Activist/Leader and former Commissioner of Youths Development during the dying days of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Comrade Newuwumi Omolubi, the Itsekiris are witnessing a very high sense of of co-operation with the burial and upcoming coronation ceremonies.

He says the nation will henceforth witness development, peace and security thus creating an enabling environment for investors of class and grades, adding that with the new Olu designate, the Itsekiri people have got it right once again and like Rev. (Dr) Stephen Gbejero puts it “Ikenwoli is a man of destiny, humility and has the fear of God Almighty. He is not stubborn and will not refuse good advice from Men of God like him to achieve the needed peace and development in Iwereland”.

He however warned that though humble, “the moment any king wears the crown, he becomes somebody else automatically”. We men of God will continue to pray for him to be able to maintain his humility, simplicity, love and kindness that he use to have.

Rev. Gbejero also expects the new Olu to resolve the crisis in oil rich Ugborodo community, saying that problems there affects him financially and every Itsekiri person, adding that if there is peace in Ugborodo, Itsekiri will be blessed as Ugborodo is the economic power house of the Itsekiri nation. He should not begrudge any of his subjects no matter what.

To be sure, big names like Felix Uku, Jemine Amorighoye Numa and Henry Ukubeyinje are of the view that every reign must be seen from its current perspective and circumstances. They are also of the candid opinion that the current massive developmental stride in Ode-Itsekiri should be sustained by way  of attracting companies, banks, Ministries, hotels, conference centers, tertiary institutions and other social amenities to the place like regular light and good network of roads and a connecting bridge from Warri urban to Ode-Itsekiri.

 They further want the Olu of Warri to regularly go to the ancestral home for many of his functions and ensure some of his chiefs visit the place and even stay there on rotational basis, just as they want him to maintain cordial relationships with our Urhobo and Ijaw neighbours. But Rev. Gbejero insist that Itsekiri has always extended hands of fellowship to them but the people has always reciprocated with wickedness, unfriendliness and security threat to their lives.

Particularly, Ode-Itsekiri should not be seen as a burial ground any more.

According to Felix Uku, a place should be reserved as Cemetery for burial purposes while the royal cemetery at Ijala/Ifie be properly mapped out, demarcated and built to standard to serve as a tourist centre because it has become a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

 Thereafter other land that does not encroach on the royal cemetery boundary is given back to their owners to build on. We expect the new Olu to effect these measures to bring back life to the place.  

What should Itsekiris give back to the Olu in return for all these expectations?

Omolubi Newuwumi says what we shall give in return is full co-operation, unflinching support/loyalty and unblemished understanding.

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