VIDEO: Why I kneel before 37-year old new Olu of Warri – Obasanjo

Former Nigeria’s President, Olusegun Obasanjo, make a surprise to Nigerians on Sunday, put age aside and highlighted respect for tradition and culture as he was pictured kneeling before the new Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

The former President was seen paying homage to the newly crowned 37-year-old king in what many observers have described as a great lesson in tradition.

Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that Omoba Tshola Emiko was on Saturday crowned as the 21st Olu of Warri Kingdom and the Ogiame Atuwatse III of the Warri Kingdom.

Speaking on Sunday during the thanksgiving service for the Olu held at his Palace, Obasanjo charged the new king to always remember that God gave him the seat and position to serve his people.

During his speech, however, Obasanjo noted that in his lifetime, he has been blessed to witness the installation of three monarchs in the Itsekiri kingdom and doesn’t wish to see the coronation of the fourth.

Chief Obasanjo is already 84-years-old.

Speaking further, the elder statesman charged the new monarch to be alive to his responsibilities, respect the people who chose him to be their leader and rely on God for wisdom.

“I am one of the happiest on your installation because God has especially favoured me to see three Olus and I don’t pray to see the fourth one.”

“I want to emphasize that the position you occupy today is given to you by God but with your own people surrounding you and you must always remember that.”

“If God has given you a role to perform you will be offending God if you fail to perform that task.”

“Be very close to God in whatever situation you may find yourself and God will surely make a way for you”, he said.

The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa who was also present at the event, charged the new monarch to follow the path of peace and seek the development of his domain and people.

He wished the Olu a peaceful and prosperous reign.

“I congratulate you because I know that you are a man of peace and I know that the Lord God has chosen you to ascend the throne at this time.”

“It is a time for healing and a time for your Majesty to ensure that the kingdom comes together.”

“I know that some people can be very stubborn but I urge you to extend the olive branch to them and I know that it will be well with the Itsekiri people.”

“You have a lot of work to do not just in Itsekiri nation but in the entire nation.”

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, we congratulate you and the Itsekiri people on your successful coronation.”

“We know that your reign will truly bring peace and development and I believe the Lord God has prepared you for a time like this and may the presence of God be with you on this throne,” he said.

The thanksgiving service was also attended by other notable dignitaries including former governors of Delta state James Ibori, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

A former National President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Chairman, Warri South local government, Dr. Mike Tidi, and many others including sons and daughters of the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to former President on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, has explained why his principal knelt before His Royal Majesty Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

Thirty-seven-year-old serial entrepreneur Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko was, on Saturday, crowned the 21st Olu of Warri, and had immediately assumed the title of Ogiame Atuwatse III.

According to Akinyemi, Obasanjo, 84, on Sunday morning, travelled to the ancient Iwere Kingdom, which is the ancestral home of the Itsekiri in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, to pay homage to the new monarch.

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The media aide stated on Sunday afternoon after a viral photo captured the aged ex-President paying homage to the young monarch.

Akinyemi described his boss as the “Baba (Father) of Africa” who can pay homage to all exalted traditional seats.

He said that Obasanjo did not kneel before the monarch but before the ancient Iwere Kingdom, which dates back to over five centuries.

“He (Obasanjo) went to Warri this (Sunday) morning to pay homage to the new king. It is a traditional institution; he (Ogiame Atuwatse III) is not the one sitting down, it is the institution that is on the throne.

“Obasanjo is the Baba of Africa and he can pay homage to every exalted traditional seat,” Akinyemi told our correspondent on Sunday.

Continuing, the aide said, “It was not Baba’s first time; he also once prostrated before Gbagura.”

The former President, who is the Jagunmolu of Egbaland, had, in August 2019, attended the coronation of Oba Saburee Bakre as the Agura of Gbagura in Ago-Oka, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he also paid homage to the then-new king.

Obasanjo, unarguably one of the prestigious global citizens from Africa, was Nigeria’s democratically elected President between 1999 and 2007.

The former Nigerian military head of state between February 1976 and October 1979 had sat on many peace committees including those of the United Nations, African Union and Economic Community of West African States and had been instrumental to the restoration of peace in many parts of Africa including Liberia, Sudan, Ethiopia, amongst others.

The new Atuwatse III is the son of the 19th Olu Atuwatse II, Godwin Toritseju Emiko and Gladys Durorike Emiko.

Born on April 2, 1984, the new Olu, a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa, studied both in Nigeria and overseas.

He is the founder of Noble Nigeria Ltd. and Coral Curator Ltd. He is also the Chairman of Ocean Marine Security Ltd. and Director, Gulf of Guinea Ltd. and Vessel link Big. Ltd, amongst others.

The husband to Ivie Uhunoma Emiko, daughter of popular Edo billionaire business mogul, late Idahosa Okunbo, is a father of three children.

According to history, it is the first time in over two centuries when the eldest son of an Olu ascend the throne with his mother still alive and well to witness him sit on the throne.

In his opening speech after his investiture as the newly-installed Olu of Warri, the monarch on Saturday revisited the past and reversed an age-long curse placed on Nigeria by his grandfather, Olu Erejuwa II, as a result of alleged injustice meted out to him.

“Today, in our capacity as Olu, we hereby avow, as the spiritual, cultural, political and traditional ruler of this land, I, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, the first son of Olu Atuwatse II, the grandson and direct descendant of Olu Erejuwa II, who was offended on this throne, I hereby reverse the curse placed over this land.

“In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the Federal Government of Nigeria whose might was used to propagate that offence. And I decree unprecedented and uncommon peace, prosperity, progress, development upon this land. I bring down the government of heaven upon this land and I direct it to flow as a force that can neither be sabotaged, slowed or stopped. It goes out as a strong ripple effect emanating from this kingdom to the rest of the Niger Delta, the rest of the Nigerian nation and even the African continent,” the newly coronated monarch said.

The foremost Itsekiri monarch celebrated his coronation with two brand new customised cars; a Rolls Royce and Bentley 2021 model.

Watch the video:

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