- An Eyewitness Account.
By Gabriel Omonhinmin.
When His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri walks barefooted and lowers his Uda (Royal Sword) to touch the land, a clear message is sent, and his presence is felt by the ancestors.
This was exactly what happened on Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Ureju, one of the riverine communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. The Trumpet gathered.
Immediately, Ogiame ascended the throne on August 21, 2021, he unveiled a new set of royal activities for the ancient Warri Kingdom. Among these activities is a programme known in Itsekiri dialect as ‘Ghigho Aghfen’ which literally means, the Olu of Warri Palace will continually watch over all the activities that take place in his kingdom.
To give meaning to this proclamation, H.R.M. Ogiame Atuwatse III on Saturday, March 19, 2022, accompanied by his wife, Olori Atuwatse III, alongside Palace Chiefs, paid a symbolic visit to the Ureju Community. The Olu of Warri sometime last year, visited Koko town. The Ureju’s visit is therefore the second visit by the Olu of Warri to a riverine community in his kingdom, since his ascension to the Warri throne.
Ureju is the oldest aboriginal Itsekiri community where Umale-Okun (Olokun), the worship of the goddess of the river, has its roots. It is also one of the five native communities in Warri Kingdom. The other communities are Omadino, Ugborodo, Ode-Itsekiri and Inorin. These communities long existed, before the crowning of the first Olu of Warri Kingdom, Olu Ginuwa 1.
The people of the Ureju community on that day were ecstatic as they went into a frenzy, drumming, singing and dancing to welcome Ogiame Atuwatse III, his wife, Olori Atuwatse III and some of the Chiefs to their community.
The Ureju people were not just excited, they had reasons to be happy with the Olu of Warri historic visit to the community. The visit of the Olu of Warri was not just symbolic, it is a recognition of Ureju Community place in the history of the Itsekiri people. The visit also provided Ogiame Atuwatse III with the opportunity to have a first-hand assessment of the level of development in the rustic riverine community.
Before arriving in the community, H.R.M. Ogiame Atuwatse III and his entourage stopped over to inspect work at the Military Barracks in Obitugbo/Koko community. The King met and discussed vital issues with the Military Commander at the barracks, and thereafter proceeded to the Ureju community for the day’s activities.
After the pomp and pageantry, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, then settled down to deliberate with the Ureju leaders and the people.
The Olu of Warri in his remarks said: “I’m happy to be here today, very happy. Things did not go the way we had planned, we had intended to come here and spend the night. But unfortunately, logistics didn’t permit it. Nevertheless, we are here and I assure you before we leave here today, my leg is going to enter the mud of this town.
“Today is my very first time, my very first time entering the Benin River. I have never entered the Benin River before. God has ensured that my first destination on getting into the Benin River was Ureju. This is very significant. Ureju has consistently proved itself to be a pioneering community, a community of people that are always at the front.
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“As you are very much aware, we came up with the idea of Ghigho Aghofen (Palace Watch) in all honesty, we were not necessarily thinking about Ureju. But God has a way of arranging things, and the same God has a way of settling order as to who goes first and the other after that. I am one hundred percent confident that God’s hand is here and God has a way of revisiting things.
The Ureju people clapped and continued to listen to their king, who explained,
“I have been having so many inspirations about setting the right foundations so that we can build properly, as a kingdom and as a nation. This was why we had sent for the Ureju people so that we could address the injustice that was done to our ancestors and by the grace of God, we have done that. I believe that is why God allowed that you must be the first community under this dispensation of God…that we come and set our feet on. This gives us the opportunity to address the matter of our foundation.
Atuwatse III continued: “The Itsekiri nation without any doubt, we are blessed one hundred percent. But for us to really, fully enjoy that blessing God has bestowed upon us and the land we occupy, it is very, very important that the foundations that we are on are just. And just because things have been in a certain way for this long, we overlook the fact that there is still something that is not just. So I am here today, dressed in my appropriate shoes, knowing what I was coming to see. I know as a people, Itsekiri, we like to see our King dressed gloriously, looking good while sitting on his throne. This is a good thing, and by the grace of God, we will always look good.
“But it is very important for our people to know that the king is not just going to sit down in his palace and believes that everything is okay with his people. When in reality that is not the case, if you look at Itsekiri land, it is easily the wealthiest kingdom in the country. Every inch of this kingdom, if I am not mistaken, is covered by OML, not OPL. They are not prospecting for oil; they are mining oil here. The entirety of this kingdom has what is regarded as producing Wells. And as such, no inch of this Kingdom should ordinarily be looking undeveloped, the way it is today. This is simply the truth.
“We should, therefore, begin to examine matters as it concerns equity and our foundations. We should begin to ask, how are things distributed and once this is addressed, responsibility, stewardship and accountability of those whom we have entrusted with these positions, will now begin to matter to us. As this is the only way, the greater number of our people will begin to benefit from our God-given wealth and resources.
“I presume that the majority of you here, have phones so you can reach out to the interventionist agencies such as NPDC, Chevron and DESOPADEC and monitor how the monies generated from the God-given resources in Itsekiri land are being managed and used. Itsekiri people all over the places, Abuja, Asaba, Warri, Benin and wherever they might be, they are known and let us also agree that they are also fine. But they must see to it that their king and their kingdom is a reflection of what it ought to be. They must be able to ask themselves, is my Kingdom as beautiful as our respective homes in places like Warri and other cities across the country where we live.
“It is, therefore, for some of our people to understand, that it is not fair, that the people who single-handedly produce so much for the country, live in conditions such as the one we are seeing here today. I am not ashamed, nor am I afraid to enter the mud here today. I will enter the mud and identify with my people and community today. Something drastic must be done about the appalling conditions of our communities.
“I was told about this community’s Ikimi trees. I was excited about the Ikimi trees and thought I would be opportune to see and feel the tree here today. But I am told while here, they are down the river. If I had known, that would be the case, I would have asked your leaders to get the trees, for me to see. Nevertheless, Ureju, I will go and pray and redeem this land. With this, I believe that the process is complete, as what we started by making peace with the injustice of the past, that was done to Erejuwa. And now that we have come to redeem this land, things will begin to change for the better. As the right attention will now be drawn here to positive development. Positive development will come and I am speaking to all of you, the leaders among you and the people among you.
“I am praying for a good heart for all of you, for good mindsets for you all. Because, once we open the door and blessings begin to show up, do not allow ego, greed, pride or any sense of entitlement, spirit to come over any of you to come and say, ‘na me go be the big man here.’ The only big man in this community is the Ogiame.”
The people once again responded with loud cheers.
The Olu of Warri concluded his remarks saying: “It is an obligation, for you people to ensure, that even when the Ogiame is not physically present here, the right and proper thing is done at all times. So that, henceforth I begin to hear correct reports where I am.
“By the grace of God, we will be coming around here from time to time. As we have done this fanfare, I know, when you people hear that the Ogiame is coming next time, everybody would want to decorate his house. But in our subsequent visits, we shall be visiting here, quietly to look and see for ourselves, that every hand of mud, every drop of water of this kingdom is in place. God has given me the responsibility to ensure that these natural resources are rightfully used and administered.
“And by the grace of Almighty God, we will see that it is so.” The crowd chorused Amen.
Ogiame Atuwatse III, then said to the large crowd, “Every single one of you is all blessed!!! Do’san gbaghan (Itseeee!!!)