The Kingdom Of Warri (Warri Kingdom) or Iwere Kingdom (1480-till date) was part of the Nigerian traditional states based in the city of Warri in Delta State, Nigeria.
The Olu or Ogiame (King) of Warri kingdom rules over only the Itsekiri People living in Warri.
The Kingdom of Warri has remained predominantly Christian since the coronation of its first Christian King/Olu Atorongboye also known as King Sebastian I in 1570, within a century of the foundation of the Iwere Kingdom.
Recall that The current Olu of Warri was recently crowned on the 21st of August 2021 and is named Ogiame Atuwatse III.
Below are the three Kings who reigned before his tenure.
1.) Erejuwa 11 Wilson Ayoronmitsi Gbesimi Emiko (24th March 1951 – 17 December 1986)
He was the 18th Olu and was the paramount Leader of the Itsekiri.
He succeeded his father. He attended a CMS missionary school at Ogbesse, thereafter he did business with United African Company rising to become a provincial cooperatives president. As Olu of Warri, he was appointed regional Minister without portfolio and president of the Warri Divisional Traditional Council.
2.) Olu Atuwatse 11 Godwin Toritseju Emiko (2 May 1987 – 5 September 2015)
He was the 19th Olu. He was born Godwin Toritseju Emiko.
He succeeded his father. He was a lawyer by profession and was a recipient of the Commander of the Niger (CON) award from the Nigerian Government. Atuwatse II died in a hospital in Lagos in early September 2015, after suffering a domestic accident. He was 70 years old, and was preparing to fly abroad to receive intensive medical care before his condition worsened.
3.) Ikenwoli 1 Godfery Emiko ( 12 December 2015 – 21 December 2020)
He was the 20th Olu. Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko born to Olu Erejuwa II and Olori Eyinagboluwade Emiko. He succeeded his elder brother and was married to Olori Mary Emiko. They had three children.
4.) Ogiame Atuwatse III ( 21 August- Till Date)
He is the 21st Olu. Tsola Emiko was born to Olu Atuwatse II and Olori Gladys Durorike Emiko on April 2nd 1984. He succeeded his uncle and is married to Olori Ivie Emiko (née Okunbo). They have three children.
He had his early education at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Primary School and Adesoye College in Offa, Kwara State between 1995 and 2000.
In 2002, he then proceeded to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Political Science with minors in History and Economics. He followed it up with a Masters degree in Science in Management from the same university in 2007 before returning to Nigeria for his NYSC in 2008, where he worked in the Public Affairs Department of the National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NAPIMS).
He is the recently crowned Leader of the Itsekiri People, he was crowned on the 21st of August 2021.
