Chief Mene Brown, the Ogwa Olusan of Warri Kingdom in an interview with Arise TV says Chief Ayirimi Emami should not be referred to as a chief in Warri Kingdom.
He said while Ayiri is one of the leaders, he is not a recognised Chief and should not be described as such.
“Ayiri Emami is a leader, not a chief. You rightly introduced him as a leader. He is a leader, not a chief in Warri kingdom. I am a chief, Ayiri is not” Mene Brown said.
But in his right of reply, Emami said he remains the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, saying the title was bestowed on him by the traditional Olu of Warri Kingdom.
He says “Yes, let me introduce myself properly, not by Mene Brown. My names are Chief Ayirimi Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri. That is the title that was given to me by the traditional Olu of Warri”.
“So, I don’t want to join issues with Mene Brown. We are here for common interests, if not, I shouldn’t be sitting with him on national television. We don’t need to wash our dirty linen out there. Those are internal issues that will be resolved at home”.
It would be recalled that in October 2021, Chief Emami was suspended by the Olu of Warri His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, who abolished the traditional title of Ologbotsere in Itsekiri Kingdom and declared that Emami should no longer be addressed as such across Itsekiri Kingdom and other parts of the world.
Ayiri had insisted that the selection of Prince Emiko as Omoba following the passage of Ogiame Ikenwoli ran foul of the process to the enthronement of a new Olu.
The Olu of Warri, also installed Chief Oma Eyewuoma as the new Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom.
Ayiri had approached the court seeking the court to upturn the purported suspension of Ologbotsere as the Chairman, Olu Advisory Council and Traditional Council of Chiefs by the Ginuwa I Ruling House.
Emami also asked the court to explain the role of the Ologbotsere in the traditional administration of Warri Kingdom, arguing that his position is next to the Olu of Warri.
