How Ogiame ATUWATSE III galloped to the throne of his forefathers
When Warri Traditional Council of Chiefs formally announced the death of His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, The Olu Of Warri to the Assembly of the Itsekiri Nation they were all sad and heads were bowed.
Chief Atserunleghe officially made the announcement by symbolically breaking three earthen (native) pots containing white native chalks, one after the other on the floor as he announced “Alejefun-ooooh,” each occasion was accompanied by twenty (20) Cannon shots. The Twenty Cannon shots signifies that twenty olus had reigned over Iwere Land so far.
He also announced Tsola Emiko as The Olu-designate, which was accompanied by wide ovation from the Itsekiri sons and daughters present at the event.
Chief Atserunleghe announced that, the people of itsekiri will be in a mourning mood for the next three lunar months till the burial rite of the late monarch will be concluded.
“All Itsekiri adults both male and female will put their clothes upside down throughout this period of mourning.
“No party, no drumming or merriment of any sort in itsekiri land, until the burial is over and new olu installed,” he said.
Then the isolation of the Olu-of-Warri designate began. It was a time of retreat for the Omo-oba, learning and training for his assignments ahead. Chiefs, elders from Ologbosere, Iyatsere, and other itsekiri elders vast in Itsekiri customs and culture will be with him daily until it’s over.
Ogiame Atuwatse III a direct descendant of late HRH Erejuwa II takes authority and did all his traditional rites including revoking the ancient curse placed on Iwere land and Nigeria.
Atuwatse III is indeed chosen by divinity to herald a new dawn in the land.
former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR); Governor Ganduje of Kano State, former president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and other notable chiefs were at the August event in solidarity to the throne.
