The Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe, on Thursday announced June 18 as the commencement of the burial rites for the late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli.
Amatserunleghe made the announcement alongside other chiefs in the kingdom at a news conference at the Olu Palace in Warri.
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He also said that Omoba Tsola Emiko would be crowned and formerly installed as the 21st Olu of Warri on Aug. 21.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amatserunleghe is also the acting Chairman, Olu’s Advisory Council on the Rites of Passage of Ikenwoli and the Coronation of the Omoba Tsola Emiko.
He said that the funeral rites of the late Ikenwoli would begin with a Commendation Service on June 18 in Warri.
Amatserunleghe said that it would be followed by the traditional burial rites at Ode-Itsekiri on June 19.
“Burial activities of the late Olu will end on July 2nd, a duration of 14 days. This will also bring to a close the mourning period throughout Warri Kingdom.
“It is my singular honour to declare to you on behalf of the Warri Council of Kingmakers that Omoba Tsola Emiko will be crowned and formerly installed as the 21st Olu of Warri on Aug. 21, 2021.
“Recall that on April 5, 2021, the Iyatsere had made a formal proclamation on the painful exit of Ikenwoli and also declared Omoba Tsola Emiko as the successor to the throne.
“This was after a rigorous process which included painstaking search within and amongst the descendants of the last three Olus as required by custom, tradition and extant laws.
“This process also included several consultations and eventual confirmation by the Ifa Oracle, which is sin-qua-non in the procedure for selecting the successor to the revered stool of the Olu of Warri.”