Owa monarch cautions against rumour of Olu of Warri’s death

WORRIED by what he termed the undue media controversy surrounding the state of health of the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Atuwanse 11, the Obi of Owa, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor, has called for restraint.

Obi Efeizomor, the first Vice Chairman of Delta State Traditional Council, who spoke at the weekend in his palace at Owa Oyibu, Ika North-East Council of the state, said that the Itsekiri ethnic nationality who are well-grounded in their culture, know the best thing to do should the purported demise of the Olu turned out to be true.

The monarch said that in the name of freedom of speech, certain cultural norms should not be violated, insisting that the Itsekiri should be allowed to handle the matter instead of the issue being a matter of intense media speculation.

He said: “I still want to believe that the story surrounding the state of health of the Olu is not correct until we hear from the Itsekiri Traditional Council. There is a way such issues are handled. The custom of the Itsekiri people should be respected. The media speculation is most unwarranted.”

The Owa traditional ruler insisted that Itsekiri people should be allowed to handle the matter according to the dictate of their custom instead of being stampeded into issuing a statement that will violate their custom and tradition by fortune-tellers.