Itsekiri nation has formally announced the death of the 20th Olu of Warriway, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, at Ode Itsekiri, its ancestral home in Warri South local government area, Delta State.
The Iyatsere of Warri kingdom, Chief Johnson Atserunleghe, who made the announcement on Monday, also presented the new Olu-designate, Prince Itieyinoritsetsola Emiko, to the people.
Amatserunreleghe announced the development at exactly 11.32 am before a gathering of Itsekiri prominent chiefs, Princes and sons and daughters.
He also said a period of mourning had been declared for the Itsekiri nation that will run for three months.
“No burials, marriages, dancing will hold across all Itsekiri communities for three months,” Amatserunreleghe said.
‘There shall be no merrymaking of any kind anywhere in Iwere land. All Itsekiri sons and daughters must tie their wrappers upside down for the duration”.
This was followed by 20 cannon shots fired to announce the departure of the monarch. He said the 20 cannon shots signified that 20 Olus had reigned over the Iwere nation.
At exactly 11.52 am he announced the new Olu Designate Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko and presented the Omoba to the Itsekiri nation.
Shouts of joy rented the air. His brief biography was later read by Prince Toju Emiko.
The new Olu designate was born April 2, 1984, to Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko (the late Ogiame Atuwatse II) and Gladys Durorike Emiko in Warri, Delta State.
He attended the NNPC Primary School in Warri and for his secondary education, at Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State, from 1995 to 2001.
Emiko got admitted to Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States where he bagged his Bachelor’s of Arts, majoring in International Studies and Political Science, while minoring in History and Economics between 2002 and 2006.
He went further to earn a Masters of Science in Management from Case Western Reserve University in 2007.
He returned to Nigeria for his NYSC in 2008 where he served in the Public Affairs Department of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS).
From 2009 to 2010, he worked as an officer at the Shell Night Closed Pension Fund Administrator (SNCFPA) and worked for Sahara Energy as a Government Relations Officer (2010-2012).
He is the Chairman, Ocean Marine Security Ltd and Director, Gulf of Guinea Ltd and Vessellink Nig Ltd. His business acumen may be said to have flowed down from his late Father.
KanyiDaily recalls that Ogiame Ikenwoli, the 20th Olu Of Warri, had died in December 2020 from COVID-19 complications just a week after his fifth coronation anniversary.
