The new Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has announced the dissolution of all traditional council, committees and sub-committees in Iwereland with immediate effect.
The dissolution was contained in a statement issued from the royal palace in Warri, dated September 1, with the seal of the office of the monarch.
His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, who ascended the revered throne of Warri Kingdom on August 21, 2021, stated that a revalidation and confirmation exercise will commence on September 2, 2021.
The 37-year-old Olu of Warri, who is the first son of late Ogiame Atuwatse II, in the statement, cited Section 25 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law Capt. 2, Law of Delta State of Nigeria, 2008, to back his decision.
The statement read in part, “I, Atuwatse Ogiame III, hereby, announce, for the information of the general public, the Delta State government, and particularly, the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Committees, the dissolution of all Traditional Councils, Committees, Sub-committees and the scheduled exercise of revalidation/confirmation effective from 2nd day of September 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Warri Council of Chiefs, the Olu-in-Council, all standing adhoc and sub-committees are dissolved forthwith.
“The mandatory revalidation/confirmation of chieftaincy titles shall commence on the 2nd day of September, 2021.
“The timetable for the revalidation and confirmation exercise shall be made available at the Palace Secretariat from the 1st day of September, 2021 and the process of registration of all chieftaincy titles with the prescribed authority in accordance with Section 25 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law (supra), shall follow immediately after the revalidation and confirmation exercise.”
The move is believed to be retribution aimed at some powerful chiefs, especially the Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) of Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, and others who attempted to block the enthronement of Ogiame III.
Amidst the squabble for late Ogiame Ikenwoli’s suceession tussle, the immediate past regent, Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, announced the suspension of Ayiri as Ologbotsere and chairman of the traditional council.
Ayiri has, however, maintained that his suspension is illegal and won’t stand.
He is currently contesting his suspension as Ologbotsere, as well as the emergence of Ogiame Atuwatse III at a Warri court in Delta State.
The embattled Ologbotsere and other chiefs, who faulted the process producing the new Olu of Warri also did not attend the coronation of the Itsekiri monarch at Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
Ayiri and other aggrieved chiefs have also not been seen around the palace since Ogiame Atuwatse III’s elaborate coronation on Saturday August 21.
By custom, upon the coronation of a new Olu, all Itsekiri traditional chiefs are required to revalidate their traditional titles from the monarch and swear to an oath of an allegiance to the new traditional ruler.
Traditionally, it’s at the discretion of the monarch to reaffirm anyone as a palace chief or not.
