From Joseph Obukata, Warri

Warri celebrated Saturday as Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, marked his first coronation anniversary at Ode Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government area of Delta State.

In the early hours of Saturday, Itsekiri people in their hundreds of thousands thronged the ancestral home to take turns in paying homage to their revered first-class monarch.

The ceremony was held amid cultural displays, traditional dances, drumming, singing, an exhibition of Itsekiri arts and history and a show off of family heirlooms by various Itsekiri nobles, in a joyous and exciting atmosphere.

His Royal Majesties, Ado Bayero and Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikechukwu, Keagborekuzi I, were among prominent figures that graced the occasion.

Speaking, an elated Olu thanked dignitaries and sons and daughters of the Itsekiri nation for their solidarity and for adding colour to the celebration.

“Today is not a speech-making day. That will come tomorrow (today) during the Thanksgiving service. However, I want to thank His Royal Majesties Ado Bayero and Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikechukwu, Keagborekuzi 1.

Your Royal Majesty Ado Bayero, I want to especially thank you for making it to this occasion, you have flown, and drove on the road and river to grace this occasion. On behalf of my people, I want to thank you”, the monarch said.

Ogiame also thanked his wife, Olori Atuwatse III, for her health initiatives to protect the interest of children in the kingdom as well as his subjects for making the event colourful.

The anniversary will be rounded off on August 21, which is the actual coronation day of the 21st Olu of Warri, with a thanksgiving service inside the church at Aghofen, the Palace of the Olu of Warri in Warri mainland.