4 days to coronation, Olu Of Warri’s crown still missing
As the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 5, in Benin, Monday, declared two sons of the immediate past Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko, wanted in connection with the still missing royal crown of Itsekiri Kingdom, palace sources confirmed, Tuesday that the planned coronation of the new king will proceed.
According to police sources, the two; Prince Onyowoli Emiko and Prince Omatsuli Emiko, are said to be wanted for allegedly breaking into the private apartment of the late Olu of Warri, where they reportedly stole the ancient crown.
Nigeria Police Interpol Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City has already obtained an arrest warrant on the two suspects from a Federal High Court in Benin City, the Edo State.
“Prince Oyowoli Emiko is wanted for the offence of breaking into the secret apartment of the HRM Olu of Warri and stealing the Royal Crown. He is said to be a student, Itsekiri by tribe, Aged 30 years, 5.2ft of height”, read the warrant.
His younger sibling, the 27-year old Oamtsuli Emiko, 5.6ft in height and also a student, is wanted for the same offence of breaking and stealing.
Following the death of the immediate past Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, in December 2020, the palace has been embroiled in a succession battle over the emergence of Prince Tsola Emiko as Olu-designate.
Unlike in previous cases where differences are settled in inner circles among contenders, the divisions this time around have been blown open among the contenders and power brokers in Itsekiri, particularly the Olu’s Advisory Council headed by the Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami and the body of Princes who share influences over who becomes next Olu. The Oracle Today learnt the crisis began when the choice of a section of the Ruling House, Prince Tsola Emiko, was disqualified by the Chief Ayiri-led Olu’s Advisory Council.
Following reports of Prince Tsola’s disqualification, Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, Head of the Royal Family, announced the suspension of Chief Ayiri as the Ologbotsere and Head of the Olu’s Advisory Council. The suspension of Ayiri as Ologbotsere, was almost immediately dismissed by members of the Ginuwa ll Ruling House and majority of Itmakis who described the development as affront on the Itsekiri Nation.
Multiple sources in the palace revealed that Prince Tsola Emiko, son of Ikenwoli’s predecessor, Atuwatse ll, was one of the preferred choices for the throne despite his disqualification in 2015 in accordance with the customary laws regulating succession to the Olu of Warri throne.
It would be recalled that Prince Tsola was snubbed in the race to succeed his father in 2015, on account of his maternal parentage, which is also a sticking point in the present dispensation. A chief who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that Prince Tsola was disqualified from succeeding his father because his mother is a Yoruba. A copy of the edict obtained by our correspondent confirmed the position of the Olu’s Advisory Council, stating that a candidate to the Olu of Warri throne must have his mother as an Itsekiri or from Edo State (Benin Kingdom).
The battle culminated I the alleged invasion of the palace where the 400-year-old crown and symbol of the Itsekiri monarchy were declared missing.
However, despite the absence of the royal crown, the Itsekiri Royal Palace has insisted that e coronation of the Olu of Warri-designate, Prince Tsola Emiko this Saturday, August 21, will proceed.
“Arrangements are in top gear for the coronation on Saturday. Nothing will stop the occasion” a palace source confirmed.