By Austin Ogwuda
SINCE his assension to the throne nearly three years ago, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, has, for the first time, drove in a vehicle into Ode Itsekiri, ancestral home of Itsekiri nation in Warri South local government area, Delta State, Nigeria, amidst cheers.
The Townhall gathered that Ode Itsekiri has remained inaccessible by road from Warri, the oil city for years.
That very road project leading to the community started over ten years ago with the project about 70 percent completed.
The said road to the community runs through 16 bridges.
According to report, the Secretary of the Warri Council of Chiefs, Chief Eugene Ikomi who was among several others on the trip with the monarch commented on his Facebook page that they got on a Pontoon at Jalla to Ugbodede community and from there drove to Ode Itsekiri in barely fifteen minutes.
Breaking the cheering news, the Palace Secretary said, “We actually drove from Warri Township to Ode-Itsekiri (Big Warri).
We crossed several bridges after being lifted by a Pontoon from Ijala to Ugbodede from whence we commenced a Fifteen Minutes drive to the Itsekiri Ancestral Home.
“Am glad to be part of this historic trip. God bless Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR the Olu of Warri”, he further commented.
The trip by the monarch and his entourage elicited jubilation in Ode Itsekiri and across all Itsekiri communities as it signaled hope that the town would soon be completely accessible by road from Warri.
A video of the trip showed about four SUV vehicles , two security patrol vehicles driving out of the Aghofen (Palace) in Ode Itsekiri. Four Mobile policemen were seen running slowly by the side of one of the SUV’s apparently conveying the monarch.
*Story credit to Vanguard