The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has officially abolished the traditional title of Ologbotsere, otherwise known as ‘traditional prime minister’ in Warri kingdom.
The pronouncement was announced on Tuesday during a meeting with descendants of the Ologbotsere family at a meeting in his palace in the Warri South council area of Delta State.
Reading out the resolution made during the meeting, Chief Brown Mene said: “The monarch called you because of the respect he has for the Ologbotsere descendants.
“It is the king that gives chieftaincy titles. It is also the king that withdraws titles. This has is the tradition.
“There are several of Ologbotsere children that are chiefs. The Ologbotsere family is very dear to the monarch.
“There is no Ologbotsere title again. The head of the Ologbotsere title can answer the nickname.
“It is the pronouncement of the king and Itsekiri nation. There will be peace, blessings in the land.
“There is no Ologbotsere again. Nobody should parade in that title. You remember the king dissolved the Council of Chiefs and have been re-admitting and revalidating titles and has also reconstituted the council of Chiefs.
“Nobody should relate with anyone in the title as Ologbotsere,” he said.
This resolution brings to an end to Chief Ayirimi Emami’s reign as Ologbotsere of Warri kingdom.
Recall that the latter had failed to acknowledge the revalidation exercise of Chiefs of the kingdom in September as constituted by the monarch.
It was gathered that the Olu reportedly instructed the citizenry to cease henceforth addressing the Emami as Ologbotsere.
Reacting to this development, Chief Emami said he neither recognises the monarch as the Olu of Warri nor his pronouncement.
Emami, who spoke to The Nation, said: “As far as I am concerned, we are in court, and I do not recognise him as the Olu of Warri. He was neither properly selected nor crowned, so he cannot parade himself as the Olu of Warri.
“To me, he remains Prince Tsola Emiko and not the Olu of Warri. His action (stripping him of the title) shows that he was not properly crowned because if he was he would know the implication of what he is doing.
“The throne of the Olu of Warri cannot be for sale to the highest bidder and we will see to that.”
