By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-south & Emma Arubi

WARRI— MORE Itsekri leaders and chiefs rose, Thursday, in strong condemnation of the surreptitious move by some opinion leaders to mobilize the people to impose sanction on the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, for allegedly embarrassing the Itsekiri nationality in the just ended kingship appellation face-off.

However, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, led by Pa J.O.S Ayomike, said, yesterday, it was holding critical consultations with various stakeholders to determine the next line of action over the matter. Pa Ayomike told Vanguard in Warri that he would speak on the matter after consultations. Meetings were going on at his residence when Vanguard visited.

But Itsekiri leaders, who spoke to Vanguard, warned those mobilizing for sanction against the revered monarch to discontinue forthwith in their own interest, saying it was a wicked plot.

The monarch had on September 4, announced a controversial “New Order in Iwere Kingdom” in which he denounced the name and title of Ogiame, the more than 500 year-old Itsekiri kingship appellation, worship of the person of the monarch by the people through their national anthem, “Area Lorire” and veneration of deities, including Umalokun and other gods of sea, land and sky.

Chief Thomas Ereyitomi told Vanguard in Warri, “They cannot sanction Olu of Warri, they cannot do it because what they consider to be an embarrassment on his part, he had come back to say the status quo prevails. If somebody says he has intent to do something and people come out to say that they heard he was going to do this and that and they are not happy with it. If the person now says that since the people do not like what he has in mind, he will suspend it and hold more consultation, where is the reason for the sanction.”

Chief Ereyitomi added, “If there is no ulterior motive involved on the part of the concerned leaders, I do not see what they are saying about sanction for a matter that had been concluded.”

Rev. Dr. Stephen Gbejero of the Hour of Truth Ministry, Warri, told Vanguard, ‘As far as I am concerned, the provocation that led to the protest of September 6-10 is all over, the storm is over. No sensible Itsekiri man and woman can sit down to contemplate imposing sanction on the king. The king is so sacred and dear to them, in fact, after God; it is the king to an Itsekiri person. No Itsekiri man, no matter where he comes from can even sanction the Olu.”

He added, “As the king actually and truly embarrassed the Itsekiri nation with the so-called September 4 edict/proclamation, so we the Itsekiris also embarrassed the king, along with different dangerous deity and colored masquerades. And so, it was vice versa, no victor, no vanquished. No sanction, Hebrews 12:14. As long as the Olu has humbled himself and changed his proclamation, as a servant of God, I tell you, ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He wishes’, Prov. 21:1. It is only God in whose hand his heart is that knows what He is doing with the king, no man can challenge God.”

He warned that judgment of false accusers would come against anybody that lays false charges against the monarch, saying, the Bible says, “Set a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand, when he is judged, let him be found guilty, And let his prayer become sin.” Psalm 109: 6-10.

Former Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Solomon Areyenka, said, “I do not think it is necessary for anybody to sanction our monarch. To me, there was a misconception by the people, even by those who interpreted the Bible and those who earlier interpreted the meaning of Ogiame to him. If there is conflict and it has been resolved, why should there be sanction.

“I do not know whether you are following me, there is no need to impose sanction on anybody, it un-called for, there was a misunderstanding and the cause of disagreement had been sorted out, except there are more than meet the eyes.”