At least 5,000 women are going to storm the palace of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II, on September 10, 2013, Tuesday, to protest the monarch’s decision to abolish some of the ancient Itshekiri cultural practices.
The protesters are expected to be dressed in symbolic red attire as a sign of danger for the monarch.
Atunwase
II had on September 4, 2013, Wednesday, 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 cease to exist following the
recent consecration of the kingdom to God. “Ogiame” means “King of the
River,” according to the history behind the Itsekiri throne.
Dr.
Alex Ideh, a former Commissioner in Delta State, however, urged the
monarch “to rescind and recant immediately his declaration or abdicate
the throne.” The ex-Commissioner added that Atunwase II did not consult
the Itsekiri Traditional Council of Chiefs and Ruling Houses before his
decision to denounce the title of Ogiame.
“Any
action otherwise will make him (monarch) face the wrath of the Itsekiri
people. The issue of religion being canvassed in the monarch’s
declaration are his personal views. He could not railroad the nation to
accept those views or obliterate the history of the people,” Dr. Ideh
stated.
Also,
Itsekiri Leaders of Thought in a statement by its leaders, J.O.S
Ayomike, Chief I.O Jemide (Secretary) and eight others stated, “The part
of the (Olu’s) statement which alleges that the Itsekiri religion is
fetish and that the Itsekiris are non-Christians is a misrepresentation
of the well-known documented historical fact that Christianity actually
started in Warri/Benin region in the early 16th Century and about eight
of the 19 Olus got baptised as Christians.
“Itsekiri
as a nation cannot be said to have covenant with Umalokun. There may be
pockets of Itsekiri people who do. Everyone has freedom of worship as
it is done everywhere. Religion is a personal matter,” the Itsekiri
Leaders of Thought concluded.
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