Comrade Alex Eyengho, publisher of Warri Mirror magazine is the spokesman of the Ologbotsere Descendants of Warri Kingdom. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on the issues trailing the revalidation exercise done by the new Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the absence of Chief Ayirimi Emami at the exercise and the need for genuine peace and reconciliation. Excerpts:

Chief Ayirimi Emami is being referred to as former Ologbotsere of Warri kingdom in some quarters over his failure to appear for the revalidation of Chiefs as directed by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. What is your reaction to that?

You need to mention the names of the people who are saying that. Did Ogiame Atuwatse III refer to him as the former Ologbotsere of Warri? That is the king, the Olu of Warri. If the king did not refer to him as former Ologbotsere, then anybody who referred to Chief Ayiri Emami as ‘former Ologbotsere’ is just wasting his time. I think we should stop listening to street talks by mischief makers. As far as we are concerned, the king has not pronounced him as former Ologbotsere of Warri. As long as the king has not said that and it is not coming from the palace, then it should be ignored as mere beer parlour talk.

Do you think there are consequences for the Ologbotsere, Chief Ayiri Emami not appearing for the revalidation exercise?

What consequences? It has no consequences whatsoever. As you know Chief Ayiri Emami is in court, are they expecting him to go and revalidate a process he is challenging in court? Even they themselves know he will not come for the revalidation exercise. Revalidation and confirmation can be done at any time, so it is not an issue. But he is not expected to be there ab initio.

Is he still the Ologbotsere as we speak?

Has anybody said he is not the Ologbotsere? Like I said earlier, nobody has said that.

The Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe had few weeks ago announced that he has been suspended as Ologbotsere, are you not aware of that?

Johnson is a chief in Warri. As Iyatsere, he is number two and the Ologbotsere is number one. So, he cannot say he has suspended the Ologbotsere. Can a chief suspend a fellow chief ? If you cannot give somebody a chieftaincy title, then you cannot take it from him. You can’t take what you can’t give. You can only do that through force or robbery. All those claiming the Ologbotsere has been suspended, whether Ginuwa ruling house or chiefs are just jokers, who are entertaining the audience who want to listen to them. What they are doing is just circus show. As at today, the 6th of September 2012, Chief Ayirimi Emami is the de facto and the de jure Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom and it remains so. He is functioning effectively in that capacity despite the fact that he is in court. However, that does not mean at any point in time, those who really want genuine peace and reconciliation cannot bring anybody to the table to talk.

What if the new Olu of Warri prefers another new Ologbotsere to work with?

Ologbotsere title is a family title; it is not Ayiri Emami’s title. It is a family title and it is the family that recommended Chief Ayirimi Emami to the then Olu of Warri who now confirmed it. The Olu of Warri cannot make anybody Ologbotsere without recourse to the Ologbotsere family. He will only make request to the family that he wants to give out Ologbotsere title. The family will now do internal screening on their own and then present a candidate. That was what was done and that was how Chief Ayiri was presented to then Olu of Warri who now ratified and adopted the decision by the family. Once an Ologbotsere title is given to somebody, it is till death. The person only stops being Ologbotsere if he dies. It is not a tenured title. It is till death. Nobody can remove or suspend him because it is a family title.

What do you think is the way forward?

Genuine reconciliation, peace and unity is the only way forward. Without peace, there can be no meaningful development and without genuine reconciliation, there can be no peace. There is need for everybody to come together as one.

Does that mean withdrawing his court case?

Peace and genuine reconciliation can come in different ways. There are issues and there are divides, no doubt about that. The solution is for all those involved to come to the negotiating table and talk in the overall interest of the Itsekiri nation. I believe it is never too late to talk peace.

The Olu Atuwatse III has called for reconciliation, forgiveness and healing in Iwereland and Nigeria as a whole. Won’t you and your Ologbotsere take advantage of the olive branch offered by the Olu and sheathe your swords by withdrawing the court cases you’ve initiated?

It is a right call. However, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami and those who believe in his position of standing with the extant laws, really have no advantage to take of any olive branch. We are not at dagger’s drawn with anybody so the issue of sheathing our swords does not arise. The court cases initiated by the parties (Prince Bernard Emiko/Prince Oyowoli Ikenwoli-Emiko and the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami) I believe is the civilized step to take as against resorting to self-help. However, I believe that people can always talk at any stage of such court cases with a view to settling out of court. Nothing is impossible. Let’s just hope for the best.
https://independent.ng/no-consequences-for-ayiri-emami-not-attending-olu-of-warris-revalidation-exercise-eyengho/

Who cares? That's what happens when you revolt against the anointed. He will learn his lesson another day. Now, he's been sacked as the key officer in the ancient town

Traditional rulers are overrated!


@SENIORWRITER

Una concern,not mine

Which yeye key officer? Is he a Commissioner or permanent secretary?

Eriokanmi:
Who cares? That's what happens when you revolt against the anointed. He will learn his lesson another day. Now, he's been sacked as the key officer in the ancient town

Oh, so Ayiri didn’t even present himself for revalidation?

He deserves to be stripped of the title for disobeying the Olu.

And besides, if you are challenging an event in court, it means you do not accept the event and therefore should never share in the dividends of such event. Because if for instance the court declares the coronation of the new Olu as null and void, Ayiri is going to see to the installation of his preferred candidate and not retain the present Olu.

Now that he has decided to fight the coronation of the new Olu, he should fight to finish and be ready to lose out if he loses. He can’t eat his cake and have it.

Lemme see how he is going to depose a king that President has sent his felicitations to. Obasanjo, Jonathan, Tinubu, and several governors too, have all paid homage.

Is Ayiri mad?

nairavsdollars:
Which yeye key officer? Is he a Commissioner or permanent secretary?

It's traditional, a major Chief in itsekiri land