Briefing newsmen in Lagos,
Chief (Mrs.) Lori-Ogbebor said the Itsekiri had rejected Emami prior to his
appointment, last Friday, noting that it was surprising that the Itsekiri
monarch went ahead to make him the Ologbotsere.
Popular rights activist,
Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has said Chief Ayiri Emami will not be recognised as
the Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) of Itsekiri nation, if the Olu of Warri, His
Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, confer the title on him against the wishes of the
people.
Her words: “Simply put, the
Olu does not take a decision on his own without proper consultation. It would be
sad if it is true that the Olu conferred any title on Ayiri."
She said: “I will,
therefore, not believe that the Olu will rush to confer a title on anybody
because there is no reason to do so. Above all these reasons is the fact that
there is a saying, which guides the Itsekiri throne and it is Mi ni mi ni I
gbo, I gbo mi ni, meaning the people own the palace and the palace owns the
people.
“It is this marriage
between the people and the throne that makes the Itsekiri throne unique. This
is why people would die for the throne and the throne should do same.
“Simply put, the Olu does
not take a decision on his own without proper consultation. It would be sad if
it is true that the Olu conferred any title on Ayiri.
“In this case, he refuted
the letter I wrote because the people refused to accept Ayriri Emami as their
Ologbotsere. The second time, the people protested that they still did not want
Ayiri as their Ologbostere. Therefore, it is quite clear to the Olu that the
people have spoken.
“There are people who want
to take Itsekiri throne and palace because of the resources and this is what
the people should worry about. Let it be clear that as the custodian of the
Itsekiri throne, we shall not surrender our throne.
“This is not a war of guns.
This is a war of just being ourselves as a people, who do things with their
brain and not with violence.
“I only saw Olu, Ayiri and
three chiefs somewhere. I do not see anything that suggests that a chieftaincy
title was being given out.
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