Okhide Em’ya David
Ologbostere of Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, on Friday met with the police in connection with alleged attack on the palace of the Olu of Warri and carting away of some very important traditional office Paraphernalia by the attackers.
The Ologbostere who is also the chairman of the Olu’s Advisory Council, vehemently denied involvement in the alleged invasion of the Palace by hoodlums.
Chief Ayiri Emami told Journalists after meeting with the operatives of the AIG Zone 5, in Benin City that he has no personal acrimony with the Olu-designate, Prince Utieyinortsetsola Emiko.
He added that all he wanted was for the traditional process of selecting a successor to the throne be followed to the letter.
A Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Zone ‘5’ Headquarters, Benin in Edo State, Polycap Dibia, had in a terse letter dated April 21, 2021, invited the palace chief to respond to a petition alleging his involvement in “burglary, stealing and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.”
The Ologbostere of Warri said he was not at home (in Warri) when the invasion of the sacred edifice was executed.
He said the Police questioned him on issues what led to the invasion while he gave them all he knew about the case
The Ologbotsere also denied being made to sign an undertaking by the police authorities to guarantee any action.
In his words “Nothing like undertaking. All that they asked was that who invaded the palace and some things are missing in the palace and that they want to know the whereabouts of those things and I actually told them all I know”.
“I am not the one they reported and I have been invited, I came here, made my statement. So, it is left for the police to act and not me,” he said.
Chief Ayiri Emami insisted that he will support whoever becomes the Olu of Warri, saying that his quest is for those concerned to do the right thing.
“As a person, Ayirimi Amami cannot say he is not in support. We have laid-down rules and procedures that the Itsekiri people normally operate with.
“The person in question, is my brother, he is my friend. So, there’s no personal issues, when you say Ayirimi is not in support.
“Whatever we are doing as Itsekiris, there are laid-down procedures and that’s what I was trying to do, it is not that I am not in support of whatever they are doing.
“It is not about Ayiri, it is about the people of Itsekiri kingdom. If they are happy, I am happy and that is why I am the custodian.
“I don’t have a personal issue with anybody. If they feel that they are happy, mine is to keep the heritage and that is what I stand for.
“I think there are talks ongoing. All I pray for, is peace to come back to my place,” he said.
