All Traditional Councils Hereby Dissolve, Says Olu of Warri
By Simeon OSAJIE
The newly crowned Olu of Warri, the Ogiame Atuwatse III, has dissolved all Traditional Council Committees and Sub-committees in Iwereland Warri, Delta State.
The dissolution was announced through a statement dated September 1st, 2021,with the seal of the throne of the 37-year-old first son of late Atuwatse II, the palace cited Section 25 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law Capt. 2, Law of Delta State of Nigeria, 2008, to back up his decision.
The release reads: “I, Atuwatse Ogiame III, hereby, for the information of the general public, the Delta State government announce the dissolution of the Traditional Councils, Committees, Sub-committees and the scheduled exercise of revalidation/confirmation effective from 2nd day of September, 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Warri Council of Chiefs, the Olu-in-Council, all standing adhoc and Sub-committees are hereby dissolved forthwith.”
“The mandatory revalidation/confirmation of Chieftaincy titles shall commence on the 2nd day of September, 2021.
“The timetable for the revalidation and confirmation exercise shall be made available at the Palace Secretariat from the 1st day of September, 2021.”
“The process of registration of all chieftaincy titles with the prescribed authority in accordance with Section 25 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law (supra) shall follow immediately after the revalidation and confirmation exercise.”
Confirming the dissolution, the Ojoye-Ojisan and the Egogo of Warri Kingdom, Chiefs Brown Mene and Robinson Ariyo confirmed the information and described it, as a normal tradition after a new Olu of Warri assumes the throne.
They said all chiefs cease to be chiefs on the day an Olu-designate is crowned Olu of Warri, adding that, they must all return their chieftaincy regalia to the palace for onward revalidation.
“You see, there’s a unique thing about the Itsekiri. I’m not sure l will remain as Chief as soon as the new king is crowned because the tradition and customs demand that all the chiefs must return their beads, swords, everything and the new Olu now decides who merited to become a chief.
“The system is structured such that each king is at liberty to constitute his own cabinet as he deems fit.
“So, all chiefs will submit their beads and swords and every other thing immediately the new Olu is crowned he decides who will return or get what,” Ariyo added.
