Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, governor has congratulated the Olu-designate, Prince Tsola Emiko, on his emergence, just as he called on the Itsekiri people to give him their full support.
Okowa who congratulated the Olu-designate on Thursday when members of the Olu Advisory Council led by the Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Atserungleghe visited him at the Delta Government House in Asaba, urged the Olu Advisory Council and the Itsekiri nation to do its best to unite everyone and ensure that there is peace in Itsekiriland.
“It is only when there is peace that we can have development not only in Warri but the entire Delta State.
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“Please extend my congratulations to the new monarch and we assure him that our prayers are with him just as we pray that the Itsekiri nation will remain united.
“I thank God that you have been able to arrive at a decision in the interest of the people on the choice of a new monarch,” he said.
He urged all aggrieved persons in the process of picking a new Olu to sheath their swords to ensure that everything was done peacefully and in unity in the overall interest of Itsekiri people.
The Governor who was officially informed on the departure of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli by Olu Advisory Council when they visited him in Asaba, condoled with the Itsekiri people over the passage of the monarch, just as he expressed grief on the death of the Warri monarch.
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Okowa who has been mute on the crisis surrounding the death and the selection of the Olu-designate said the departed Olu was an epitome of peace who built bridges across ethnic divides in the country.
While stating that the departed Olu was an epitome of peace who built bridges across ethnic divides in the country, Okowa described the departed as a promoter of peace who contributed immensely to promotion of peace and development in Itsekiriland and neighbouring ethnic nationalities in the state.
“I want to truly condole with the whole of Itsekiri nation on the passing of Ogiame Ikenwoli, the king who believed in peace.
“He set out to visit other monarchs to establish partnership and friendship and these partnerships he built helped to improve on the peace in the state and helped to bringing various kingdoms together.
“We thank God for the life of His Royal Majesty who has gone to the great beyond and I pray that the Itsekiri nation will continue to work for peace because he was an epitome of peace.
“We appreciate his conduct as a royal father who was always with us at state functions along with his colleagues. He built bridges of friendship and played his role beyond the Itsekiri nation.
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“We were not expecting this but only God knows why it happened so early. On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn with the Itsekiri nation on the passing of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri Kingdom,” he said.
Recall that Delta Government through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, had on Tuesday said the State Government was not aware of the passage of the monarch thus not also aware of the controversies in Itsekiriland over the crisis.