Trouble In Warri As Olu of Warri Abolishes Ancient Traditional Practices and Name

Recently tension and protests has seized Warri, Delta state for some days now after the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II himself announced the abolition of some of the ancient Itshekiri cultural practices.

The Olu of Warri is a born again Christian, and has a Foursquare Worship Centre in his palace. On Wednesday September 4th, 2013 he declared in a document titled, “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom,” that the “Ogiame” title which had been in existence for over 500 years would no longer exist because it is supposedly associated to a river goddess. He says he only wants to serve one God.

His Statement reads:

“I also repent for the name and title of “Ogiame” that my ancestors and I have borne, as it connotes our allegiance to Umalokun (goddess of the river) and other deities of the sea, all of which are false gods. Today, I renounce our allegiance to Umalokun and other gods of the sea, land and sky. On behalf of the royal bloodline, the throne, the people of Iwere land, I publicly enter into a new covenant with God.”

The King did not only renounce his traditional title of Ogiame, he also openly dissociated himself from some of the kingdom’s age-long traditional practices, which he described as paganism.

However, the people of Itsekiri has taken this statement and decision as an insult hence they registered their displeasure through the protests.  

It is allegedly indicated that the King did not consult the Itsekiri Traditional Council of Chiefs and Ruling Houses before taking the decision. So the people of Warri want him to either withdraw his statement or abdicate the throne. 

Following this statement, the Itsekiri youths in Warri took to the streets on Sunday 8th Sept, 2013.  The protests timely would have turned bloody but for the intervention of Governor Uduaghan, also an itsekiri. By appealing to the youths to remain calm.

It is expected that no fewer than 5000 women will embark on a protest today Tuesday 10th Sept. 2013 in Warri against the monarch. It is reported that the women will be dressed in their symbolic red attire. This signifies danger for the mornach.

Picture Source: George Oshodi