The Delta State Governor, Dr.  Emmanuel Uduaghan,   has appealed to thousands of Itsekiri  protesting the bid by their  monarch to jettison their  traditional beliefs  to remain calm, saying he was already meeting with stakeholders   to resolve the matter.

Uduaghan, who arrived the palace at about 3.45pm on Sunday, was met by the surging protesters, who appealed to him to mediate in the crisis.

An online news portal, THE WILL, reported that the   governor, was   allowed into  the palace without  his security aides,  came out after about 15 minutes to address the protesters.

Urging  the protesters  to exercise restraint,  he  said he had discussed with   Atunwase II, the chiefs and the youth  over the issue and expressed  gratitude to the protesters for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

The palace of the Olu of Warri was barricaded for the third day by the protesters who erected canopies in the front gate.

Some women and youths also erected canopies by the side fence of the palace where they cooked and danced.

Itshekiri masquerades were also brought in to spice up  the protest as they banged   the gate of the palace while the protest lasted.

The protest was sparked off by the monarch’s decision to, among others,  abolish the ancient Itshekiri masquerades which are paraded during traditional festivals.

While the monarch was inside the palace as the scene was playing out, only a few chiefs, leaders and youth representatives were allowed to enter the palace by the protesters.

Several meetings were held by groups who adjourned and  reconvened after some hours. The groups were  said to have also met   with the monarch.

Atunwatse II  had few days ago declared in a document titled  “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom,” that the “Ogiame” title which had been in existence for over 500 years would cease to exist following the recent consecration of the kingdom to God.

“Ogiame” means “King of the River,” according to the history behind the Itsekiri throne.

The monarch, in the document, said he had renounced his allegiance to the “Umalokun” (goddess of the sea), land and sky as well as  the “Ogiame” title to which his ancestors had pledged allegiance to “Umalokun” and other deities.

PUNCH

Protest against Olu of Warri rages, Uduaghan intervenes

September 9, 2013 by Agency Reporter 58 Comments

The Delta State Governor, Dr.  Emmanuel Uduaghan,   has appealed to thousands of Itsekiri  protesting the bid by their  monarch to jettison their  traditional beliefs  to remain calm, saying he was already meeting with stakeholders   to resolve the matter.

Uduaghan, who arrived the palace at about 3.45pm on Sunday, was met by the surging protesters, who appealed to him to mediate in the crisis.

An online news portal, THE WILL, reported that the   governor, was   allowed into  the palace without  his security aides,  came out after about 15 minutes to address the protesters.

Urging  the protesters  to exercise restraint,  he  said he had discussed with   Atunwase II, the chiefs and the youth  over the issue and expressed  gratitude to the protesters for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

The palace of the Olu of Warri was barricaded for the third day by the protesters who erected canopies in the front gate.

Some women and youths also erected canopies by the side fence of the palace where they cooked and danced.

Itshekiri masquerades were also brought in to spice up  the protest as they banged   the gate of the palace while the protest lasted.

The protest was sparked off by the monarch’s decision to, among others,  abolish the ancient Itshekiri masquerades which are paraded during traditional festivals.

While the monarch was inside the palace as the scene was playing out, only a few chiefs, leaders and youth representatives were allowed to enter the palace by the protesters.

Several meetings were held by groups who adjourned and  reconvened after some hours. The groups were  said to have also met   with the monarch.

Atunwatse II  had few days ago declared in a document titled  “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom,” that the “Ogiame” title which had been in existence for over 500 years would cease to exist following the recent consecration of the kingdom to God.

“Ogiame” means “King of the River,” according to the history behind the Itsekiri throne.

The monarch, in the document, said he had renounced his allegiance to the “Umalokun” (goddess of the sea), land and sky as well as  the “Ogiame” title to which his ancestors had pledged allegiance to “Umalokun” and other deities.

Pastor Oyedepo opens Abuja Winners Chapel

The Federal Capital Territory was agog on Saturday when Bishop David Oyedepo inaugurated one of the biggest branches of The Living Faith Church, popularly referred to as Winners Chapel in Life Camp District in Abuja.
The church, which accommodates over 4,000 worshipers every Sunday, was built in less than one year.
Thousands of worshipers gathered to witness the unveiling of the cathedral, which is estimated to be over N300m.
Oyedepo, who was represented by a Senior Pastor, Dele Bamgboye, revealed that with the dedication of the branch, Life Camp and its environs were set to experience a spiritual rebirth.
He therefore charged the congregation to always have faith in God, as only Him can supply all their needs.
Top clergymen and some senior  government officials in Abuja and in other northern states under the Winners Chapel family, were on ground to witness the official inauguration.
Resident Pastor of the church and younger brother to Bishop Oyedepo, Gideon Oyedepo, told journalists that the church project gulped millions of naira.
Culled: Punchng
- See more at: http://247nigerianewsupdate.com/pastor-oyedepo-opens-abuja-winners-chapel/#sthash.2lCBffNN.dpuf