When the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu Utieyinoritsetsla Emiko CFR, the paramount ruler of the Itshekiri’s was picked as the next to ascend the throne in 2021 by the Iyatsere, it was riddled with a lot of controversies. Some parts were super excited that a young and cosmopolitan monarch had emerged and some other factions were aggrieved that his selection was not in line with the traditions of the Itshekiris.

However, Ogiame Atuwatse III passed through the necessary traditional rite to become the Olu of Warri.

After his emergence, the Olu of Warri extended an olive branch to the aggrieved people saying the kingdom is for all. Some accepted the offer while others refused to change their stand. The Olu in his usual manner remained calm, unperturbed as he started on a highflying note making sure he made some few corrections which will move the kingdom forward and further place its tradition and institution as sacred.

According to close sources, the Olu worked assiduously in mending fences with those aggrieved people, one of which is Ayiri Emami.

Ayiri, a popular socialite, who retained the title of Ologbotsere of Warri land despite his fractured relationship with Olu, refused to move his grounds.

Unsuspecting to what the new Olu of Warri had in store, he declared that all chiefs within the kingdom should come back for revalidation of their titles as they are to submit their traditional paraphernalia.

While many of the chiefs submitted to the Olu’s orders, Ayiri declined and his seat was declared vacant. However, dignitaries across the country waded into the matter after which Ayiri later succumbed to a private meeting with the Olu at his palace where he finally went to pay homage alongside his supporters.

At a general assembly on the Aghofen over the week, Ayiri came out, paid homage by kneeling down before the King for the revalidation of his title. In a dramatic turn, the Olu offered Ayiri the title of Eyeku of Warri Kingdom, a title once held by his late father Chief Akonu Emami, but the popular socialite declined insisting on the Ologbotsere or nothing.

In the same vein, Ogiame stressed that to have the Ologbotsere title, Ayiri will need to follow due process by meeting the requirements but he declined and stormed out of the palace in the company of his lieutenants.

The king, immediately, elevated the Aboludero of Warri Kingdom Chief Oma Eyewuoma, a Deputy Director at Conoil, to the role of the new Ologbotsere of Warri kingdom and gave him his blessings.