History was made on Sunday July 31 when the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli for the first time after his coronation stormed the Itsekiri ancestral home, Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, in-company of some prominent Chiefs of Warri Kingdom, including The Ojomo of Warri, Chief J.T.Y. Pessu, Chief Sunny Irone, Chief Ayirimi Emami and Prince Yemi Emiko of the Warri Royal family.
Our Correspondents who covered the historic private visit report that the Monarch and his entourage were ushered into the Itsekiri ancestral home with traditional dance steps by beautifully clad Itsekiri women and youths.
The Olu of Warri who responded to the colorful cheers of his subjects that came happily to receive him and his Chiefs, went round designated parts of Ode-Itsekiri town to purportedly commune with the Itsekiri Ancestry with a view to ensuring that he provides the needed leadership that will see to the genuine peace as well as development of Warri Kingdom.
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli & his entourage returning from the site of the Glo Mast
Flanked by the Palace Chiefs, other members of his entourage as well as women and community youths, the respected Warri Monarch visited the site of a Mast erected by Telecommunication giant, Glo.
The Mast which sources said is one of two allegedly influenced to Itsekiri riverine communities (with the other one at Akpakpa-Ajudaibo in Excravos) by Warri based politician, Chief Ayirimi Emami, is expected to provide the much needed telecommunication network services to Ode-Itsekiri, Orugbo, Inorin, Usele, Ajigba as well as other riverine communities in Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, when operational. Fresh Angle International learned that these riverine communities are currently out of network coverage areas.
A member of Warri Royal family, Prince Yemi Emiko told Newsmen that the visit of the Olu of Warri to Ode-Itsekiri is a usual routine of Warri Monarchy.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG has blamed Itsekiri political leaders for the infrastructural underdevelopment of Itsekiri communities, insisting the leaders should be held responsible for the loss of Secretary to Delta State Government slot purportedly promised Itsekiri PDP leaders by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa during his electioneering campaign, the avoidable closure of UNOPS Egbokodo in Warri South Local Government Area and the Executive Director Projects, EDP position in NDDC.
In a statement signed by NAIG President, Comrade Collins Edema and made available to Fresh Angle International Tuesday August 2, the Itsekiri graduates’ body enjoined Itsekiri political leaders to set aside their personal interests, no matter the political divide with a view to pursuing the all-round human capital and infrastructural development of Itsekiri communities.
The statement noted, “instead of displaying the spirit of altruism which is the hallmark of good leadership, most of our leaders take decisions either for their pecuniary gains or for egoistic tendencies. It is a shame that the only loser in this their ‘game of chess’ is the Itsekiri Nation, which has continuously been put on a negative pedestal due to their poor leadership attitude. This has caused the Itsekiri Nation serious developmental and political setback for years”.
The statement also raised alarm that majority of the job slots given to Itsekiri Nation by Chevron in the proposed EGTL Turn Around Maintenance, TAM were allegedly being sold by some Itsekiri leaders, wondering why Chevron purportedly refused to liaise with the Palace of the Olu of Warri as demanded.
While querying the rationale behind allocating 50% of the job slots to Ugborodo and Ugbegungun communities, leaving the remaining 50% to the other Itsekiri oil field communities, NAIG warned those allegedly selling Itsekiri job slots to stop immediately or face the consequences and reiterated its earlier stance that Chevron must deal directly with the Olu of Warri until the leadership crises in IRDC was resolved.
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