The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, has said the newly inaugurated Warri Unity Games were conceived to foster stronger unity, peace and mutual understanding among the diverse ethnic nationalities in Warri and Delta State.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Warri Unity Games held at the Federal Government College, Warri, the monarch said the initiative was founded on the belief that the people share far more in common than what divides them, stressing that unity remains the pathway to collective progress and prosperity.
Ogiame Atuwatse III explained that the Games would henceforth become an annual event held on the first Saturday of his coronation anniversary week, saying the celebration was designed not only to preach peace but to actively promote friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence among all residents of Warri.
The monarch recalled that a similar carnival organised during the reign of his father, Ogiame Atuwatse II, in the early 1990s was overshadowed by violence and conflict, noting that Warri lost an opportunity to build a nationally celebrated cultural event because of division and distrust.
Determined not to allow history repeat itself, the Olu said his reign would be dedicated to promoting unity, peace, progress and prosperity, adding that the palace had taken deliberate steps to heal old divisions among neighbouring communities.
He disclosed that the palace had officially prohibited the use of derogatory terms against neighbouring ethnic groups, insisting that such expressions no longer have a place in the kingdom.
According to him, the people must abandon old grievances and focus on building a shared future founded on mutual respect.
He urged all communities to embrace one another as allies and partners rather than rivals, noting that no meaningful development could be achieved through suspicion, hatred or domination.
He maintained that today’s realities demand respect for the dignity of every human being and cooperation across ethnic boundaries.
Ogiame Atuwatse III appealed to all stakeholders to reject violence and channel their energies toward peaceful and productive ventures, urging that genuine grievances be resolved through lawful means.
He expressed hope that the gesture of reconciliation by the palace would be reciprocated, saying the streets and hearts of Warri should become places for building peace rather than conflict.
The event was attended by Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, the Queen Consort of the Warri kingdom; His Imperial Majesty Obi (Dr.) Gregory Nnamdi Oputa III of Aboh Kingdom; His Royal Majesty Kingsley Emakpo Orereh, Ataneru Igbi II, the Ovie of Agbarha Kingdom; the representatives of the Delta State Government, Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, and other traditional rulers, who commended the initiative as a major step towards lasting peace, unity and development in Warri Kingdom.
The Warri Unity game is an inter-tribal sporting event featured football, relay races, tug of war and paintball, attracting participants from the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Bini and other tribes.
At the end of the competition, Team Ijaw emerged overall champions and received the star prize of N10 million, while Team Urhobo finished as first runners-up with N5 million. Team Itsekiri came third to earn N3 million, as participants and spectators celebrated the spirit of sportsmanship rather than rivalry.
The games also witnessed commendations for the monarch for using the sport to unite all the ethnic nationalities in the state.
Addressing the gathering, the Olu of Warri said the Unity Games would become an annual event to be held every first Saturday of the kingdom’s coronation anniversary, describing it as a platform to strengthen social cohesion and deepen the bonds among all tribes in Warri.
