The people of Itsekiri in Warri Kingdom of Delta State, on Wednesday, rolled out the drums to celebrate the anniversary of the end of 88 years of interregnum suffered in the Kingdom with the return to the Kingdom’s throne His Majesty Olu Ginuwa II as the Olu of Warri.
The current Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, at a colourful ceremony in the palace in Warri, said the return of the monarch to the throne was a moment of great glory to Itsekiri nation.
Ogiame Atunwatse III delved into history of the crown, noting that after the interregnum, there have been abundant reasons for the Kingdom to continue to celebrate.
He said, “It is most auspicious day. If God didn’t designate this day, we would not be here celebrating.
“On this day 88 years ago, God took shame away from Itsekiri as a nation. And he made us complete and whole again, by bringing Ogiame back to the throne, in the person of our great-grand-father, Olu Ginuwa II.
“And in those 88 years, as we all know, we have had Olu Ginuwa II, 1936-1949. Olu Erejuwa II 1951-1986. Olu Atuwatse II 1987-2015. And our immediate predecessor Olu Ikenwoli, 2015-2020. Our emergence on the 21st August 2021 as the 21st Olu of Warri makes us the 5th Olu since the restoration of the monarchy.”
The monarch said a dawn of greater glory came to the Kingdom after the interregnum.
He said, “five is the number of grace. And we can be assured of God’s grace and His mighty hand firmly remains upon us. Eight is the number of new beginnings
“That the interregnum ended after 88 years was significant then. And it showed God was doing a new thing for Itsekiri. Now another 88 years have passed. In the way God took the people out of 400 years of darkness of Egypt, it still took 40 years to remove the darkness of Egypt out of the people.
“Today, after 88 years, all the darkness that managed to escape the interregnum and carried with us into the restoration of the monarchy, we completely overcome and leave it behind.”
He prayed, “Any darkness that attempts to befall Itsekiri, Itsekiri will not only be the light in that darkness, but will overcome. The land will never swallow us, it will only bless us. The water will never drown us, it will only replenish and give us more life. In this leap year of 2024, Itsekiri takes a giant leap forward in the right direction.
“It is also interesting to note, the community on duty as we are gathered here, Okere, was founded by one who was sent to come and disrupt the progress of our journey as a kingdom.
“However today, as Ekpenede did all those centuries ago, his own descendants are not only serenading and entertaining the same King and kingdom, they continue to affirm their allegiance and loyalty to this throne and this kingdom.
“But one thing is sure, all those who are determined to be stubborn, and contend with the progress of this throne and our people, the fate that happened to the same Egyptian elements, is their sure inescapable fate.
“God does not make mistakes, neither does God do coincidence. It is all intentional. In our limited understanding, we may not understand all we see today, but God is orchestrating it all for our good.”
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