The Warri Traditional Council on Saturday ended about two weeks controversy over the demise of the Itsekiri monarch, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, announcing that the Itsekiri king was no more.

The announcement of the demise the monarch was made by Chief Tesigiweno Yaya Pesu, the eldest traditional chief and a member of the the Olu Traditional Council, the advisory body to the stool which comprises the king-makers.

The grand ceremony took place at the island of Ode Itsekri, better known as Big Warri, which is the ancestral home of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality and attended by practically all Itsekiri men, women and youths.

A huge bar of white chalk was smashed on the ground to symbolise the passing away of the Olu of Warri amid other traditional rites at the over two hours ceremony.

Intermittently, the sound of cannon boomed to mark different points in the process of traditional rites leading to the public announcement of the death of the Itsekiri royal father.

Seventeen cannon shots were fired during the ceremony, which ended with the announcement of the Olu-designate at about 12.15pm.

A successor to the throne was also announced by the traditional council in the person of Prince Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko, younger sibling of the deceased king.

Sixty-one year old Prince Emiko is a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Benin.
Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/traditional-council-announces-olu-of-warris-passing/220644/
Cc: lalasticlala