Francis Sadhere
The Nigerian Senate has condoled with the people of Itsekiri nation and Delta State on the demise of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, describing the late monarch as an iconic leader whose leadership qualities will be missed in the nation.
(Barr.) Eroro Emiko, diring a condolence visit to the Itsekiri nation on the demise of their monarch, yesterday.
The Members of the delegation led by Senator Kabir Gaya include; Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ishaika Adeleke, Senator Theodore Orji, Senator James Manager, Senator Ighoyota Amori, and House of representative members, Hon. Daniel Mayoku and Honorable Idisi Lovette.
Delivering the letter of condolence on behalf of the Senate President to the regent of the Itsekiri kingdom at the Palace of the Olu of Warri yesterday, Senator Kabir Gaya said they were at the palace to condole with the good people of Itsekiri nation and the people of Delta State on the demise of a great king.
“The Senate President has sent this high powered delegation on behalf of the Senate and the House of Representative to come and condole with the people of Warri, Delta State and Nigeria. The late Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II was a great king. We all have benefited from his iconic leadership. He (Saraki) has sent us here to deliver this letter to the people of Warri kingdom to show our condolences,” said Senator Gaya.
Senator Gaya while speaking to journalist said: “We are here to condole with the people of Warri on the demise of the Olu of Warri. If you can remember he was a member of the last conference committee, so he has touched part of the legislature. It is a great lose to all of us and that is why the Senate President and the Senate sent us with this high powered delegation because they have seen the value he has added to the development of the country.
“This is not only a lost to the Warri people and Delta state, it is also a lost to Nigeria in general. This is why a motion was moved in the house by a ranking Senator of the House, Senator James Manager from Delta State. And the Senate President during a plenary decided to send this high powered delegation comprising former governors. We sympathise and condole and pray that may his sole rest in peace.
“We are well received here and we feel at home because two of our senators are here with us and the people have told us to convey their appreciation to the senate and the senators and we are going to deliver that message and when the time for the burial comes we are going to be here too.”
Receiving the Senators on behalf of the kingdom, the regent, Prince Barr. Eroro Emiko, thanked the senators for condoling with the people of Warri, just as he said the visit has shown the whole world how important the late monarch was to Nigerians.
“We are very happy with this visit, though our hearts are filled with sorrow. This visit has shown that we are not alone in this mourning. We thank you for identifying with us. Even though we are mourning right now we still thank God for keeping all us together here today,”
The regent also used the opportunity to inform the Senate delegates that the burial ceremony of the monarch will soon take place, and that they will inform them about the date as soon as possible.
Prince Emiko also informed the Senate delegation that after the burial rite of the late monarch, the kingdom will also install the new Olu of Warri, appealing for support when the time comes.
