Chief Ayirimi Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to request that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser and Inspector-General of Police, arrest Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Esq, the former deputy governor of Delta State.
At a ceremony hosted by Ologbotsere Descendants Worldwide on Wednesday called “The Day Ologbotsere Descendants returned from the battlefield,” Chief Ayiri made the request and accused Otuaro of masterminding the beginnings of the current political conflict between the Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic groups.
Chief Ayiri charged that Otuaro had manipulated the process of adjusting the borders during the previous administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by taking advantage of his prior role as deputy governor.
He asserted that many Itsekiri villages were denied access to vital offshore advantages because of the purported manipulation, which kept them out of important coastal buffer zones.
He pleaded with President Tinubu to order the IGP to carry out a comprehensive investigation and to investigate Otuaro about his involvement in the purported national boundary commission scam.
“The fraudulent adjustments carried out under Otuaro’s supervision have laid the groundwork for the current conflict between the Itsekiri and Ijaw,” he stated.
“I urge the NSA to arrest all those involved in this scheme, particularly Otuaro, who played a principal role in this deceit.”
Chief Ayiri presented documents related to the controversial boundary adjustments to support his allegations, describing them as a “fraudulent exercise” aimed at oppressing the Itsekiri nation.
As they fight for justice over the controversial ward demarcation that INEC recommended, he encouraged Itsekiri people worldwide not to waver.
“All documents relating to the fraudulent boundaries adjustment exercise supervised by Otuaro vis-a-vis the contentious ward delineation exercise have been presented to the National Security Adviser and we have made our position clear on it that it is all fraud”.
“I told the NSA that all those who participated in this fraudulent document led by Kingsley Otuaro should be arrested”, he reiterated.
He suggested the people of Itsekiri to be steadfast since the pertinent authorities have already heard the vex concerns on the INEC ward delineation plan and are taking proper action.
He said that his title as Ologbotsere is a commitment to serve the Itsekiri people, stressing “I will not allow any elements to distort the truth regarding our Itsekiri’s rights and dignity.”
“This my Ologbotsere title is a call to service. I was called to serve the Itsekiri nation. My life is dedicated to serving Itsekiri nation, my head and neck I have dedicated it to Itsekiri cause so I will not sit here as Ologbotsere and allow some elements within and outside to try to turn the truth upside down”.
“Nobody should threaten the Itsekiri nation. We are like a needle that cannot be swallowed”, he asserted.
Continuing, he said; “Because I speak the truth to Itsekiri, that’s why I’m having enemies within, if you want to have enemies, speak the truth.
“The Ologbotsere of Warri, is always afraid of doing things against Itsekiri, as far as it’s against the people, I will never do it. You cannot sell Itsekiri.
“So many of them wearing white cloth in the name of Itsekiri Chief in Warri kingdom, have come to destroy the Itsekiri nation.
“The things you see those small boys post on Facebook and other social media platforms, are stories told to them by those set of wicked chiefs. If you can remember, one Chief Omolubi Newuwumi, said I was carrying the son of departed Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, Prince Uyowoli round like bambiala, all to blackmail my good name. Omolubi said so, because when the Ogiame Ikenwoli joined his good ancestors, he wanted to become the Olu of Warri and I told him that’s not possible.”
Whilst tracing his biological roots to Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo and Ilaje, Chief Emami, noted: “If there is a problem in Itsekiri, we quickly unite as one. If there’s no enemy inside, the enemy outside can’t do anything. When I was supporting Asiwaju in the beginning, they were going against me, now that the President has emerged, they want to come in and be on the dance floor. Atuwatse II taught me politics.
“All the lands they are talking about, from Omadino to Ugborodo, have been settled in the Supreme Council, now known as the Supreme Court.
“I’m showing you the federal government gazette. If you’re truthful, you won’t lie as a traditional worshiper, just as I’m worshipping good ancestors.
Speaking to journalists on the fringes of the vibrant celebration, Comrade Alex Eyengho, the spokesperson for Ologbotsere Descendants, stated that the events of April 16, 2023, at the Olu Palace in Warri, took Itsekiri ten years back in terms of unity and healing.
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He stated: “From what happened April 16 (2023) a lot of people now realised that Chief Ayirimi Emami, isn’t the problem, as others started coming back to join Chief Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom.
“The Ologbotsere Descendants remain intact, under the leadership of Chief Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri and the Olori-ebi Descendants, Pa. Hugson Oporokun, who is over 105 years old. Itsekiri nation is where we are today, because some persons refused to respect the gazetted law to the succession to the throne of the Olu of Warri. Chief Emami is central to the solution Itsekiri is looking for, Nigeria must respect the rule of law.”
According to Yemi Emiko, a prominent prince of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami has widespread esteem, which explains why there is constantly a throng of fans surrounding him.
Prince Emiko stated that it was time for every Itsekiri to come together for the sake of the Itsekiri Nation as a whole, emphasising the necessity for Itsekiris to pursue peace and tranquilly.
