…As Emerhor Describes Late Olu of Warri As Great, Wise Ruler

By Francis Sadhere

Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Governorship candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor have condoled with the regent of Warri Kingdom, Prince Eroro Emiko, over the demise of late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II.

Olorogun O’tega Emerhor (4th left), Prince Eroro Emiko (middle) in a group photograph with APC Chieftains and Itsekiri Chiefs, during the condolence visit.

Olorogun Emerhor described the late monarch as a great and wise ruler whose leadership qualities have contributed immensely to the development of Iwere land.

Emerhor stated this today when the Delta APC members paid a condolence visit to the palace of the Olu of Warri to condole with them on the demise of their monarch.

The Delta State APC Governorship candidate, who led the delegation of the APC members to the palace, poured encomium on the late monarch, saying that he will forever be remembered for the role he played in the development of Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general.

We come this morning on a very sober visit. We are mourning the exit of a great and wise ruler. We are here to condole with you. I can remember how the late Ogiame accepted us during the electioneering period. He gave us his words of wisdom and directed us on some of the things we could do. When we heard of his exit we were shocked. But God is the one that determines the faith of every man.

“However, I am happy that he is leaving behind a great legacy that will provide a level of solace to the Itsekiri nation. The late monarch will be remembered for the prosperity, wisdom, peace and development that he has brought not only to the Itsekiri nation, but also Delta state as a whole. He is a ruler that is widely accepted not only in this country, but also in the whole world, Emerhor said.

Emerhor added they also came to pledge their loyalty to the regent of the kingdom, Prince Eroro Emiko and to support him in this trying period that the Itsekiri nation is going through, promising that they will support him and the Itsekiri nation during the burial rite of the late monarch and also during the installation of the new Olu.

Let me say clearly that we will offer our support in all the activities that are lined up, including the passage rites and the coronation. As a party we believe that we have always found sympathy with the Itsekiri nation. And out visit today is to re-enforce that friendship, Emerhor added.

He also said that they have come to re-enforce their friendship and to sympathize with the Itsekiri nation, adding that they Itsekiri nation has always been there for the party irrespective of what people were saying.

He said: We are here to share in the pain of the Itsekiri nation. We are here to provide our support and to stand by you at this time of your grief and to pray to God to grant you peace and stability in this time. We are also grateful that you have successfully selected an Olu designate who in due time will be coroneted and take over the baton of leadership from where the late Olu stopped. We also pray that God protect him and protect all of you and to ensure that when he gets to that bridge he will cross it.

Responding, the regent of the Itsekiri Kingdom, Prince Eroro said he was shocked by the overwhelming support the visit has garnered, stressing that since the demise of their king, the palace has never received the kind of support that has just been giving to them by the APC.

While thanking Emerhor and the APC members for the visit, Prince Eroro commended the leadership qualities of Olorogun Otega Emerhor, for being able to maintain peace despite the overwhelming crowd that came with him to the palace.

In a similar development, Olorogun Emerhor while speaking to journalist after the visit lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party for the wroth in Delta state saying that for the past 16 years PDP has messed up the whole state.

He noted that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has no excuse for not fixing all the bad roads in the state in the few months he has been in office because he has been part of the PDP for the past sixteen years, adding that what is happening in the state has clearly shown that the state needs a party that will bring prosperity to them.

He said: We need people who can bring development to the state and bring resources to the state. We know it is hard out there, so we need to bring in investors who can help us. All these roads can be fixed whether during the raining season or dry season because when people are committed to getting things done, they can be done.

Some of the party leaders that were on the entourage include: Chief Jones Erue, Delta APC Chairman, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Ayiri Emami, Prince Yemi Emiko, Senator Spanner Okpozo, Chief Adelabu Bodjor and a host of others.