By Emeka Okafor
The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has felicitated with the Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, on his birthday.
Uduaghan, an Itsekiri trained medical doctor and governor of Delta from 2007 to 2015, assured Chief Ayiri that God’s covering was upon him as he had flipped through a very challenging period of his life.
There had been crisis in Itsekiriland over the selection of Prince Tsola Emiko as Olu of Warri-designate to succeed Ogiame Ikenwoli who joined his ancestors in December 2020.
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However, Chief Ayiri who is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the process of producing Ikenwoli’s successor fell out with the Ruling House leading to his purported suspension as Ologbotsere.
Ologbotsere was said to have rejected the selection of the Olu-designate in line with the 1979 Edict which stipulates that for one to qualify to be Olu, his mother must either be from Itsekiri or Edo.
The mother of Prince Emiko, who is the son of Atuwatse ll, hails from Yoruba.
The Olu-designate was disqualified in 2015 from succeeding his late father on the argument that his mother was not from Itsekiri nor from Edo.
The crisis escalated to a point where Ayiri was last week invited by the Zone 5 of the Nigeria Police Force in Benin.
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But former Governor Uduaghan who has been quiet on the crisis on Monday took to his Facebook to celebrate with embattled Ologbotsere
Uduaghan wrote, “Happy birthday Chief Ayiri Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom!
“I pray for God’s covering upon your life especially as you have flipped through one truly challenging chapter and opened a fresh one of endless possibilities and grace to soar higher in your life’s endeavors. Congratulations Ajabọ!”
Meanwhile, Ayiri had earlier in a birthday message to himself sort for peace in Itsekiriland and Nigeria at large.
He wrote, “On this auspicious occasion of my Birthday Anniversary, I Pray for Peace in Warri Kingdom, Delta State and Nigeria at large. Happy Birthday To Me.”
