…As Ogiame Atuwatse III Waxed Lyrical In First Speech As Olu
- Forgives those who offended Eradiawa II
In an atmosphere of glitz and glamour, further imbued with pomp and pageantry, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Saturday, led a high-level delegation of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the official Coronation Ceremony of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri.
Senator Omo-Agege who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the regal coronation event which took place in Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiris of Delta State, represents Delta Central Senatorial District including Warri–the oil-city in the Nigerian Senate.
Other members of the delegation include Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, His Excellency, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase and Member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive.
In his keynote speech at the event attended by thousands of well-wishers and members of Nigeria’s elite, traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Senator Omo-Agege prayed for the success of the new Olu as well as for the concord, well-being and prosperity of the people of Iwere Nation.
“Based on traditions and ancient virtues, your ascension to the throne by the Almighty God. Your royal highness, as the youngest ever Olu of Warri, you are certainly a monarch of these times.
“As a well educated and successful entrepreneur with considerable national and international work experience, your royal highness is blessed with the wisdom and vision to look back and fully embrace centuries-old practices even as you look forward to the modern future with the [perseverance] of this generation.
“I am certain that as a monarch with the traditional will to continue the noble 500-year tradition of this kingdom, your reign will witness improved peace, progress, and development of your people and the nation.” Omo-Agege added.
The Ogiame Atuwatse III in his first official speech as the Olu of Warri eulogised his ancestors and immediate past predecessor and uncle, Olu Ikenwoli, who passed away in December 2020.
Olu Emiko who waxed lyrical throughout the speech, also expressed gratitude to the palace chiefs who stood by him during the struggle for the throne.
“Interestingly, just before this precious moment in time which has brought us to where we are today, that age-long tendency that has always sought to distort and abort our greatness wanted to rear its ugly head in an attempt to truncate our glory and restoration to our original, God-given identity.
“We avow before you all today that we were not and were never offended at any point in time during the process that culminated to this day, that has seen me ascend the throne of my fathers.
“This is, in every ramification, a very special day. One that has been predestined and divinely ordained by the Most High God. He and He alone could have determined that three months after our Idaniken began in May, our coronation will take place today, the only Saturday in this year 2021 that occurs on the 21st day of the month.
“There is no part of this that has been my own doing, it was and remains God’s divine project. And as a result, the mischief that some had intended, God has used it for good.”
Ogiame Atuwatse III also used the occasion to reverse a decades-old course place on Nigeria by his grandfather, Olu Erejuwa II, as a result of alleged injustice meted out to him.
Erejuwa II was the paramount leader of the Itsekiri, who was the Olu of Warri from 1951 to 1964 and from 1966 to 1986.
Olu Emiko, while reversing the course declared, “While not seeking to reopen old wounds, it is pertinent to recall the fact that following the grave injustice meted out to Olu Erejuwa II, he visited His Royal Majesty, Oba Akenzua II of Benin, and recounted his ordeal.
“In a reaction, a curse was placed on the land by both of them. It is not recorded that Olu Erejuwa II reversed the curse over the land nor is it recorded that Oba Akenzua II did the same. Most probably, the issue was never revisited.
“As a firm believer in the intricate interconnectedness between the spiritual and the manifestation in the physical, it is our firm belief that the matter needs to be addressed.
“Today, in our capacity as Olu, we hereby avow, as the spiritual, cultural, political and traditional ruler of this land, I, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, the first son of Olu Atuwatse II, the grandson and direct descendant of Olu Erejuwa II, who was offended on this throne, I hereby reverse the curse placed over this land.
“In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the Federal Government of Nigeria whose might was used to propagate that offence. And I decree unprecedented and uncommon peace, prosperity, progress, development upon this land. I bring down the government of heaven upon this land and I direct it to flow as a force that can neither be sabotaged, slowed or stopped. It goes out as a strong ripple effect emanating from this kingdom to the rest of the Niger Delta, the rest of the Nigerian nation and even the African continent.” Ogiame Atuwatse III said.
