Former President Jonathan expresses support for Olu of Warri designate
By Adenle Omawumi, Warri
The support for the Olu of Warri designate is growing. Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday expressed full support for the Olu designate, Omoba Tsola Emiko. In a statement of solidarity, he personally signed and made available to Irohinoodua Jonathan said the emergence of Emiko came ‘at a time when our nation is in need of vibrant and transnational leadership owing to the different challenges we are facing as a people.”
In a related development, Irohinoodua was reliably informed that senior lawyers of Yoruba extraction will be joining the legal team as a form of solidarity. “The lawyers will establish the Itsekiri origin of Yoruba which is not in doubt. They hope to impress on the courts to summon historians from all over the world who have no option than to prove what is self evident, that the Yoruba and Itsekiri are of the same ancestry” a reliable source told Irohinoodua. The source said two Yoruba Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SAN) will lead the legal team to represent the Yoruba people at the court proceedings.
The throne of the Olu of Warri is being challenged by Chief Ayiri Emani who is insisting that the Edict stating any Olu’s mother must be of Itsekiri or Benin extraction excluded Yoruba.
Many have interpreted Jonathan’s support, being the most prominent Ijaw leader as a sign of cooperation from neighboring Ijaw Nation indicating that the emergence of Omoba Emiko is expected to bring lasting peace between the Ijaw and Itsekiri people.
Jonathan asked the Olu to use the ‘opportunity provided by this divinely ordained appointment to contribute your quota to the assignment of national development.’
He said further “The royal stool to which you have been found worthy is a national treasure, an emblem of patriotism that has produced notable leaders in our country.’
